Dwayne Johnson Reflects on Black Adam, His Time in the DC Universe, and Comments on The DCU
Dwayne Johnson is looking back at his short-lived time as Black Adam with nothing but good vibes and a positive attitude toward the future of the DC Universe.
In 2022, Johnson took on the role of the ancient antihero in Black Adam, a film that promised to “change the hierarchy of power” in the DC Extended Universe.
The movie followed Adam as he’s unleashed after 5,000 years of imprisonment, bringing his god-like power and harsh brand of justice into the modern world. His clash with the Justice Society of America set up what many fans believed would be a wild new direction for DC, including a teased showdown with Superman after Henry Cavill’s surprise return in the film’s mid-credits scene.
But, as you know, things didn’t quite go as planned. Black Adam underperformed at the box office and was met with mixed reviews, leaving Johnson’s grand DCEU plans grounded before they could take off. He was also tryiing to make a powerplay at the time to take over the DC Cinematic Universe.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson opened up about that experience and reflected on his time as the character.
“I loved making Black Adam. We had a great time. Loved creating those characters and introducing other characters, as well, in that universe. Had a great time,” Johnson said.
He went on to share that there’s no bad blood between him and DC Studios, saying, “Wish that universe well. And on to others.”
The reboot is already reshaping the franchise, with David Corenswet stepping into the cape as the new Superman.
Rather than chasing another blockbuster franchise, Johnson appears to be shifting his focus to more grounded projects. He recently starred in A24’s biopic The Smashing Machine, which signals a desire to explore intense, character-driven storytelling.
Looking ahead, Johnson’s schedule is stacked with some exciting titles. He’ll appear in a Martin Scorsese-directed mafia film Lizard Music alongside Benny Safdie, and the psychological thriller Breakthrough. He’s also wrapped production on Disney’s live-action Moana remake, reprising his fan-favorite role as Maui, and will soon head back to the jungle for another Jumanji adventure.
Johnson’s chapter as Black Adam may have been short, but he gave it everything he had to try to do somehting cool and different with the DCEU. I wish he would’ve actually pulled off making a great film.