Dwayne Johnson Gets Superpowers (and Joins Another Franchise) in the First 'Black Adam' Trailer

In the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe — and a spinoff from 'Shazam!' — The Rock plays an ancient prisoner turned god.
Sarah Ward
June 09, 2022

If you've only ever spotted one thing about former wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, we're betting you've noticed that he already looks like he has superpowers. And if you've been watching The Rock's on-screen career as he's amassed a hefty movie resume over the past couple of decades, you've probably also observed a second key point: he overwhelmingly loves joining franchises.

Cases in point: The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King, his multiple Fast and Furious flicks (and spinoff Hobbs & Shaw), Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, GI Joe: Retaliation, and both Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level. New to that list is Black Adam — and, fittingly, here he plays someone with superpowers.

The latest entry in the DC Extended Universe — aka the movies that revolve around Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the whole Justice League gang, because Marvel isn't the only comic book company with a film and TV universe — Black Adam is also a spinoff from past DCEU flick Shazam!. Johnson plays an ancient prisoner turned god who was given powers almost 5000 years back, then captured in a tomb. Now, he's free and on the loose in the modern world.

Is Black Adam a hero or villain? On the page, he's one of Shazam's archenemies — but as the just-dropped trailer for Black Adam shows, grappling with that question is a big part of this new movie. Given that he's played by the always-likeable Johnson, you can probably expect him to fall further on the side of good than evil.

Black Adam hits cinemas Down Under on October 20, with Johnson's Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collet-Serra helming.

Also featuring on-screen: Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (the To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise ) as Atom Smasher and ex-Bond star Pierce Brosnan as Dr Fate, plus Sarah Shahi (Sex/Life), Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin), Quintessa Swindell (Voyagers) and Bodhi Sabongui (A Million Little Things).

And if Black Adam has you thinking about Shazam!, it is getting a sequel this year, too, with Shazam! Fury of the Gods due in cinemas in December.

Check out the trailer for Black Adam below:

Black Adam opens in cinemas Down Under on October 20.

Published on June 09, 2022 by Sarah Ward
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