2022’s Black Adam failed spectacularly at the box office, not even managing to break even when considering all costs. That certainly contributed to its failure to get a sequel, with James Gunn having no plans to produce one in his revamped DC Universe.
That’s a real shame. While Black Adam wasn’t great, Dwayne Johnson had the potential to be tremendous in the role and create some epic on-screen moments if allowed to interact with more characters in the live-action DC world.
Had James Gunn opted to make Black Adam 2 in the DC Universe, there are some heroes whom it would’ve been terrific to see the eponymous character fight. This piece will look at six possibilities in that regard.
The Green Lantern Corps
Black Adam is a team-wrecker and a character it may take several opponents to defeat. Therefore, the Green Lantern Corps could’ve been an excellent option for him to face in a DC Universe sequel. They’re confirmed to appear in the franchise, with Guy Gardner set to appear in the hotly anticipated Superman: Legacy and a Lanterns series expected to comprise a big part of the franchise.
Green Lanterns only go to work in their designated sectors of the universe when the threat is considerable, and Black Adam undoubtedly fits that description. Had he fended off their initial attack, it would have been a great way to introduce a newly recruited prominent Lantern, such as Kyle Rayner, into the DC Universe to step up and defeat him.
Wonder Woman
Pitting Black Adam against another ancient mighty warrior would’ve been fantastic to see in the DC Universe, and there’s no doubt that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman falls into that category. Although she was part of the Justice League in the DC Extended Universe, she could still operate alone and investigate the threat of Black Adam, ultimately facing him one-on-one.
It would be similar to Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America operating alone despite being Avengers members in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Black Adam and Wonder Woman are super-fast, super-strong, super-durable, and highly skilled, with countless years of combat experience. Their climactic showdown would’ve been epic. Sadly, Gal Gadot has gone the same way as most other DCEU actors and won’t be in the DC Universe.
The Teen Titans
More often than not, in superhero movies, the heroes come out on top. Therefore, it would’ve been fantastic for Black Adam 2 to introduce the Teen Titans to live-action superhero movie audiences and have them spectacularly outgunned. Picture it: Black Adam is on the rampage, and the Titans see it as their opportunity to make a name for themselves.
However, Adam brutally decimates them, shocking audiences to their core and giving them something rarely seen in Marvel or DC films. So many superhero movies are lighthearted popcorn flicks with happy endings. The massacre of a naive team of young superheroes would be quite the diversion from that.
Shazam
The most obvious contender to face Black Adam in his sequel would’ve been Zachary Levi’s Shazam. The two characters are mortal enemies in the comic books. Despite having the same powers granted from the same source, they’re complete opposites regarding their personalities and ideals. Johnson’s Black Adam is an ancient warrior with a ruthless nature and centuries of combat experience, while Levi’s Shazam is inexperienced with the personality of a teenager.
It looks like a mismatch on paper, but seeing Shazam come into his own in live-action and giving Adam a run for his money would’ve been a sight to behold – especially if he brought his Shazamily along for the ride. However, after Shazam! Fury of the Gods bombed, Levi is another victim of James Gunn’s cull, and audiences won’t see him again.
Superman
In Black Adam’s mid-credits scene, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller sends Henry Cavill’s Superman to negotiate with Johnson’s eponymous character, with the Man of Steel telling him, “We need to talk.” The intention was obviously for the two to come into conflict, as negotiating with Black Adam could never end any other way. It could’ve been an extraordinary one-on-one rivalry in Black Adam 2 had James Gunn opted to make it happen.
Adam and Superman have similar powersets and levels of strength, but Adam’s power stemming from magic could give him an advantage. With Cavill being replaced by David Corenswet, who’ll play a younger version of Superman in Gunn’s Superman: Legacy, this mighty battle sadly won’t occur in the DC Universe.
The Justice League
As previously mentioned, Black Adam is a team-wrecker. He is, therefore, potentially a Justice League-level threat. Had Black Adam 2 been made, there’s every chance he’d have been pitted against the entire Justice League roster in the film. Seeing Johnson’s Adam facing off against Cavill’s Superman, Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Ben Affleck’s Batman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, Ray Fisher’s Cyborg, and Ezra Miller’s Flash would’ve been a spectacular movie event, with some superb one-on-one encounters happening along the way.
The battle could’ve spanned the Earth, with untold damage being done. Unfortunately, there’s no indication of any immediate plans to see the Justice League in the DC Universe, so it wouldn’t be happening even if Black Adam was in James Gunn’s vision for the franchise.
