For almost as long as there has been a DC cinematic universe, Dwayne Johnson has been on board to play the role of Black Adam within said universe. However, years have gone by and the role still has yet to materialize on the big screen.
When Shazam! came out earlier this year, it seemed like we were inching ever closer to seeing Dwayne Johnson as the popular hero/villain and every indication was that a Black Adam movie was finally on the way. Now we have a bit more visibility to the plan as Shazam! and Black Adam producer Hiram Garcia has now confirmed that the plan is for the Black Adam movie to finally go before cameras at the end of 2020.
Definitely the success of Shazam! was awesome to us. And it was important for us to launch that, get that out into the world, and just begin crafting this universe. It’s a big thing for us to start to create this DC section of the universe that we’re working on with character that we have planned to bring into it. Headlined by Shazam and Black Adam. The idea is that if everything falls into line right now, Jaume Collet-Serra just closed this deal that we’re very excited about. And the plan is to be filming at the end of next year.
So filming at the end of 2020 means that we're looking at a release for Black Adam likely as either a holiday movie in 2021, or possibly a spring or summer release in 2022. That still puts Black Adam a ways off, but at least now we have an idea when we'll see it.
Of Course, Hiram Garcia is telling Collider that this is what happens "if everything falls into line" which would certainly indicate that this isn't set in stone, just what people are working towards.
The schedule would seem to fit. In 2020 we already have two DC movies planned, with both Birds of Prey and Wonder Woman 1984 set for release. After that, we'll get James Gunn's Suicide Squad in the summer of 2021. It looks like Black Adam could be the next DC movie we'll get after that one, but we'll have to wait and see how the schedule shakes out.
Of course, the other movie that needs to be taken into consideration here is Shazam! 2. We know the movie is coming, but we don't know when. The word has been that the sequel may go into production as soon as possible and Zachary Levi has said he expects the sequel to film in the spring or summer of 2020, which would put it ahead of Black Adam if things actually happen that way.
Black Adam's character origins were teased in the first Shazam! He is the hero that the wizards previously chose who ended up turning on them.
Either way, considering the success that Shazam! had, we can be sure this corner of the DC universe will be a focus for all involved, and eventually we'll get that Shazam and Black Adam smackdown.
