For quite a while it’s been clear Dwayne Johnson has been interested in taking on a major comic book, and in recent weeks the rumours have run rife that he was closing in on a role in Warner Bros.’ planned take on DC Comics’ Shazam.
Now Variety reports that Johnson will indeed be in the movie, although those who suggested he wasn’t quite right for the title role have been proved correct, as Johnson will actually be playing Shazam’s nemesis, Black Adam.
The actor has confirmed the new with the tweet below.
Shazam (also known as Captain Marvel, although you can see why they’d avoid that name) is the superhero alter-ego of a boy called Billy Batson. The hero has the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. While not particularly well known today outside comic book circles, he was the biggest selling character of the 1940s.
Black Adam meanwhile first appeared in 1945 as Teth-Adam of Kahndaq. He was originally a villain, but slowly transformed into an anti-hero who matches Shazam in strength, agility and fighting. He also knows magic.
It seems likely therefore that Johnson will be taking the role with the eye to getting his own spin-off.
Darren Lemke will write the script for Shazam, which is likely to be released in 2016.
"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