While Black Adam is just a month away from release, a new rumor indicates Dwayne Johnson is already pitching a face-off against the Justice League and The Suicide Squad in a potential sequel. Moreover, it would bring in Henry Cavill’s Superman but cast doubt over a Man of Steel 2 being the priority. Though where does this leave Shazam?, Teth-Adam’s nemesis, it’s even prompted Shazam! Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg’s response.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s DCEU is the most unpredictable franchise in Hollywood at the moment with the new regime led by David Zaslav balancing their financial priorities as well as maintaining relationships with A-list filmmakers like Matt Reeves to churn out blockbusters. However, the superhero genre is still surrounded by uncertainties as rumors claim there’s another merger in store for the studio. But a new rumor coming from Insider Grace Randolph suggests the execs at Warner Bros. film could hand the reign to Johnson, a powerhouse star capable of heralding the DC Extended Universe with Black Adam at the center of it.
According to Randolph, Johnson could take over the DC, and apparently, The Rock is pitching, as the Beyond the Trailer host notes, “Dwayne Johnson [Black Adam] wants to fight the whole Justice League in a second movie.” And she added, “It gets better, not only would Black Adam fight the Justice League but because she’s brought Amanda Waller in here, The Suicide Squad would come in here as well.” The rumor has taken off social media and has reached Shazam 2 helmer’s radar too.
Sandberg initially responded with an image featuring Billy Batson consoling Shazam. The director later stated in another tweet he has no information to either confirm or deny the aforementioned report but said it would be funny if Black Adam got to fight DC’s ensemble before Shazam. Readers can check it out below.
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) September 23, 2022
I have no idea if that’s true or not. But it would be pretty funny if Black Adam fights every DC character except Shazam.
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) September 23, 2022
It’s unclear if it would be the 2017’s Justice League version or Zack Snyder’s Justice League that would be embraced. But Johnson’s recent efforts to acknowledge fans suggest the latter. But nothing is confirmed until an official confirmation but Randolph suggests the future of Snyderverse could be running on the back of Black Adam’s box office success.
Johnson teasing that the hierarchy of DC Universe would change with Black Adam could be a real fact behind-the-scenes as well. The rumor mill suggests WBD’s CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy would oversee the DC comics-based films since negotiations with Dan Lin fell through. In addition, the studio’s decision with Batgirl and the cancellation of several animation projects have also further impacted the brand image so its likely the two chair-persons could be chiefs with Johnson possibly playing a bigger role over other DCEU flicks.
Black Adam will arrive in theaters on October 21.
