Despite saying just two weeks ago that he couldn’t decide between playing the titular Shazam or his arch-enemy Black Adam, actor Dwayne Johnson took to Twitter today to announce that he will be playing Black Adam in the upcoming film. No further details are known about the film however, including writer, director, or a release date, but check back here for more on the film as we learn it.
Originally Teth-Adam of Kahndaq, the character first appeared in Marvel Family #1 in 1945 and has gone on to be both a villain and an anti-hero throughout his history. The character has powers comparable to that of Shazam, including flight, strength, agility, lightning manipulation, as well as magic.
Johnson has been in talks to star in a DC film for many years at this point, and earlier this year hinted that Black Adam was one of his favorite characters. A rumor back in June pointed toward a Shazam film opening in 2016 along with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and though there is a DC-based film set for release August 5 of that year, it hasn’t been confirmed as being Shazam.
“Kneel at his feet or get crushed by his boot.” My honor to become.. #BlackAdam #TheAntiHero #DCComics pic.twitter.com/Qk55eNf3R7
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 3, 2014
Photo Credit: Uwe Geisler/Future Image/WENN.com