While audiences are used to seeing Dwayne Johnson as a charming hero, his role as the titular character in Black Adam will clearly be different.
Speaking to Total Film, the former wrestler explained what he finds interesting about Black Adam and how the antihero wields his power. "What makes Black Adam unique and different is that he lives by a code. If you attempt to harm his people, his family, his country, or him, he will rip you in half," Johnson ominously states. "He will literally grab you by the neck, and then grab you by the thigh, and rip your body into two pieces."
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The actor, who was cast in the role in 2014, expressed his excitement at bringing the antihero to the big screen, while also explaining how the role is different from his past work. "I wanted to make sure that I brought Black Adam to life, knowing that it was a departure from what I had played before in the past," he said. "There are just natural elements, I think, in me, that are part of my DNA that we see in the character of Black Adam. [But] it is a departure from anything that I've played before in the past."
Johnson, known for his work in the Fast & Furious and Jumanji franchises, also spoke of the different ways the character can be viewed by audiences, with his complex moral code leading to these various readings. "There are a lot of elements about Black Adam that are dependent on your perspective," he said. "Is he a supervillain? Is he an antihero? To some, he is just a straight-up superhero."
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Black Adam, who first appeared in DC Comics in 1945, is a corrupted hero from Kahndaq, eventually becoming the archenemy of Shazam after gaining powers from the same wizard as his counterpart. The pair were originally due to share an origin story in the DC Extended Universe, but Warner Bros. -- after some persuasion from Johnson -- eventually decided to give each character their own films, with the Zachary Levi-led Shazam! arriving in 2019. A sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, will be released on Dec. 21, 2022.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film will see the titular character attempt to acclimate to modern society after spending nearly 5,000 years imprisoned. Alongside Johnson in the cast will be Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo and Pierce Brosnan.
Black Adam is set to be released on Oct. 21, 2022.
Source: Total Film