'Black Adam 2' Not Happening at DC, Says The Rock
Following Henry Cavill being cut from playing Superman, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's Black Adam antihero is out of DC's cinematic universe -- for now.
First Henry Cavill, now Black Adam. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed on Twitter Tuesday that Black Adam won't be included in DC's slate of upcoming films, which got shaken up by James Gunn and Peter Safran after the pair took over DC Studios in October.
"James Gunn and I connected, and Black Adam will not be in their first chapter of storytelling," Johnson wrote. "However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters."
Black Adam⚡️ pic.twitter.com/b7ZbCJZxBw
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 20, 2022
So Black Adam is out for now, but there is a possibility he could reappear years down the road. Whether Johnson could still play the character in the future -- he's 50 years old now, and that hulking physique gets harder to maintain with time -- is another concern.
Black Adam's departure, however temporary, reflects a significant realigning of DC's cinematic universe. Following a cameo in Black Adam, Henry Cavill was expected to return as Superman to clash with Johnson's antihero. But Cavil himself is out as Superman, something the actor revealed on Instagram last week. Cavill had played Superman since 2013's Man of Steel.
"James and I have known each other for years and have always rooted for each other to succeed," Johnson wrote in his Tuesday post. "It's no different now, and I will always root for DC (and Marvel) to win."
Gunn quote tweeted Johnson's post, and tweeted back similarly kind words: "Love The Rock and I'm always excited to see what he and Seven Bucks do next. Can't wait to collaborate soon."
Black Adam hit cinemas in October, taking in $391 million at the global box office. The film received mixed reviews, with a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It did much better with cinema-goers, though, pulling in an audience score of 89%.
"I will always look back on the fan reaction to Black Adam with tremendous gratitude, humility and love," Johnson said.
