The Rock Confirms Black Adam Role, The “Antihero” in Shazam

In a message that shares comic book art of the dark wizard and dictator, Johnson referred to Black Adam as an “antihero,” suggesting that perhaps he won’t be the sole or primary antagonist of the film, and that he may have a more complex psychology, echoing more recent iterations of the character as written by DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns

Johnson had been attached to the role of Black Adam in a previous iteration of the Shazam movie, as well as to a Lobo film, over the years. Not long ago, rumors started to circulate that he and Warner Bros. were in serious talks to give him a role in their fledgling cinematic universe, and last month he revealed that he would play either Shazam or Black Adam in a Shazam film.

Adam, who derives his powers from the same source as Shazam does, is also the ruler of a small, Middle Eastern nation called Khandaq. Khandaq will appear in upcoming issues of the Arrow Season 2.5 comic book series as well as being referenced in an upcoming episode of The Flash on The CW. The nation has been referenced in previous episodes of Arrow, including the one that introduced the Suicide Squad. DC’s TV series, though, do not happen in the same universe as their feature films.

While Warner Bros. have yet to officially confirm production, Shazam is widely expected to be one of the studio’s 2016 or 2017 theatrical releases.