Following the underperformance of 2017’s Justice League, the DC universe is currently on the up, up and away after the recent success of Aquaman and Shazam!. More exciting titles are on the way looking ahead as well, such as Todd Phillips’ Joker, Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984. It also looks like Warner Bros is moving forward with Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson sooner rather than later.
Producer Hiram Garcia, who works closely with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on his project under Seven Bucks Productions revealed a director has officially signed on to helm the feature, with these words:
Jaume Collet-Serra, he just closed his deal, which we’re very excited about, and the plan is to begin filming that end of next year.
In a recent interview with Collider for Hobbs & Shaw, Hiram Garcia revealed the exciting news that signals Black Adam is moving forward. The Shallows director Jaume Collet-Serra has closed his deal with Warner Bros and Dwayne Johnson is expected to suit up for production at the end of 2020.
Garcia explained how the success of Shazam! (on which he and Dwayne Johnson served as executive producers) was important for Black Adam to move forward. The character hails from Billy Batson’s world and the upcoming movie will build on the sub-universe established with the spring hit.
Dwayne Johnson recently teased that Black Adam will have the character starting off as a villain and becoming an anti-hero, and then potentially turning into a full-fledged superhero. The actor was cast in the role back in 2014 and was originally intended to show up in the big-screen introduction of Shazam. However, it was later decided that the Black Adam was important enough to lead his own movie first.
The delay is understandable considering Hiram Garcia and Dwayne Johnson do have a lot in the works already. They are currently promoting Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. Next up is the holiday release of Jumanji: The Next Level and then Jungle Cruise (also directed by Jaume Collet-Serra) coming out summer 2020. The producers are also working on Netflix’s big-budget action-comedy Red Notice, starring Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds.
Warner Bros is also currently developing The Batman and The Suicide Squad for releases in summer 2021. Matt Reeves is helming the Dark Knight’s return, with Robert Pattinson behind the mask. Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn will write and direct The Suicide Squad. The Flash and Aquaman 2 are also in the works to join DCEU’s upcoming slate.
The writer of Rampage, Adam Sztykiel, is attached to the screenplay for Black Adam. Keep up with us here on CinemaBlend as more information on the comic book supervillain adaptation surfaces. Meanwhile, check out the Rock with Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw coming to theaters this Friday, August 2.
