Black Adam star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson peeled back the curtain on his superhero diet as he prepares to peel off his shirt for an upcoming scene.
"At midnight, I know it doesn’t look like much but this diet is a real science," Johnson wrote on Instagram to accompany a photo of bison meat and scrambled eggs with a gluten-free English muffin coated with sodium-free peanut butter. "Have a big scene this week for Black Adam that requires my shirt off... Training hard, dieting down while pulling all sodium and every ounce of water and food is measured."
Johnson specifically calls out the removal of sodium from his diet and the strict measuring of all food and water over the next 48 hours because he's in the process of dehydrating his body ahead of his shirtless scene -- a process that's become common in movies (Hugh Jackman famously did this before his shirtless scenes while portraying Wolverine) and is especially important for bodybuilders in the lead-up to competitions. This will remove all water weight and give his physique an even more defined look when the cameras are rolling.
While Johnson's diet is key to his Black Adam look, his training regimen also plays a crucial role. In February, the actor shed light on his workout plan, which consisted of fasted cardio followed by resistance training using a traditional push/pull/legs split ("push" works the chest, triceps and shoulders, aka the "pushing" muscles, while "pull" works the back and biceps, aka the "pulling" muscles). Johnson also noted that he favors supersets and giant sets, in which you transition directly from one exercise to the next with as little rest as possible until you've completed a designated number of lifts within a circuit. Finally, he explained that the lifts he chooses for his routine are designed to work the targeted muscles from all angles, giving his physique a balanced and well-rounded look. It's because of this dedication that Johnson's strength and conditioning coach Dave Rienzi noted that The Rock's Black Adam costume won't need any added muscle padding.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Black Adam stars Dwayne Johnson, Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Quintessa Swindell, Pierce Brosnan, Mo Amer, Marwan Kenzari, Bodhi Sabongui, James Cusati-Moyer, Sarah Shahi and Uli Latukefu. The film arrives in theaters July 29, 2022.
Source: Instagram