Fresh off the success of Shazam!, DC has announced Black Adam, a spinoff of the hit film centering on one of the hero’s central antagonists. Jaume Collet-Serra will direct, with Dwayne Johnson playing the titular anti-hero. This isn’t the first time Collet-Serra and Johnson will have worked together, as the two just finished filming Jungle Cruise. Previously Collet-Serra has directed horror flicks The Orphan and House of Wax, and recently directed The Shallows.
The arch-nemisis of Shazam, Black Adam originated as an Egyptian prince who received powers through a wizard, much like Shazam did. Wouldn’t be the first time Johnson has played Egyptian royalty, as he appeared as The Scorpion King in The Mummy 2 and its various spin-offs. Hopefully Black Adam makes better use of him, and has better effects.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, DC initially planned to feature Black Adam in a Shazam! movie as a side character. But with Johnson’s popularity and the growing success of superhero movies, the studio decided he warranted a film all his own.
Both Shazam and Black Adam have been around for a while. In fact, Black Adam originally had the name of Captain Marvel. Typically, the two are arch-nemeses, and it’s more than likely that DC will follow up the two films with a third one featuring both of them. Shazam vs. Black Adam, anyone?