Released in 2021, Black Adam was a massive hit that was based on the DC comics of the same name. The film received positive reactions from fans and critics. The special effects and action scenes were perfect, had a strong plot, and the cast did a great job playing their roles.
Fans are excited to see Black Adam going all out against Superman, but people who have read the comics would know that Shazam is the arch nemesis of Black Adam, so why did the film feature Superman, not Shazam? It is because Dwayne Johnson dislikes the Shazam franchise, and he convinced Warner Bros. to avoid following the source material, leading to a different origin and a showdown.
Why Does Dwayne Johnson Dislike the Shazam Franchise?
Even though Dwayne Johnson has not said that he dislikes the franchise, there is an insider who says Black Adam’s leading star, Dwayne Johnson is doing everything in his power to separate his project from Zachary Levi’s Shazam. As Dwayne Johnson ardently believes that strong characters like Black Adam should have a standalone and have their stories revealed first, and reportedly he turned down to have a cameo in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Here’s what the insider said:
“Safran needs to win over all the other filmmakers… and Dwayne Johnson’s thinly veiled disdain for Shazam means he probably isn’t loving the idea that his boss is now the guy that produces ‘Shazam.’ Safran is pretty diplomatic, so I think he will pull it off but it won’t be easy.”
Here’s what Dwayne Johnson said about Shazam’s script:
“I made a call… I said, ‘I have to share my thoughts here. It’s very unpopular…’ because everyone though, ‘Hey, this script is great, let’s go make this movie.’ I said, ‘I really think that you should make Shazam!, make that movie on its own in the tone that you want. And I think we should separate [Black Adam] as well.”
Dwayne Johnson has always listened to his fans, and he knows how much comic book fans would hate the movie if it fails to go in the same direction as the source material. Fans can back Dwayne Johnson as it can be about the creative choice of the actor, and it can be a rumor that the actor hates the Shazam franchise. Because Dwayne Johnson said himself during the promotion of Black Adam, the two characters would meet after their stories have been told.
Dwayne Johnson’s Future in The DCU
Recently, James Gunn and Peter Safran were made the co-CEOs of DC Studios, and on Twitter James Gunn shared the upcoming projects of the DCU and he made a lot of changes because of DC’s discontinuity in the film and television industry. And James Gunn’s announcement has put Dwayne Johnson’s DC future in the dark, he decided to walk away from DC movies. However, Dwayne Johnson revealed that he would continue to explore future stories for Black Adam and related characters.
Can we Expect a Return of our Favourite Superheroes?
Following the lackluster release of the DC Universe, Warner Bros. decided to make a change and gave James Gunn the reins for the DCU, and he believed that it would be best if they started from scratch rather than continuing Zack Snyder’s DCU popularly known as Snyderverse. On his Twitter, James Gunn uploaded a video sharing his ideas, and it was something that the fans could not have anticipated in their wildest dreams.
Moreover, James Gunn also stated the door to Zack Snyder’s Universe is not totally closed, and in the near future many superheroes would get their solo movie. Additionally, the characters which have been introduced in the DCU would return at some point in the future, therefore fans can expect that Black Adam can return to the DCU in the future.
Source: The Wrap
