Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Reveals BLACK ADAM Release Date & Teaser Poster

At long last, The Rock can smelllllllll what Black Adam is cooking.

Via his Instagram account, actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has revealed the release date and official teaser poster for his upcoming movie Black Adam, based on the DC Comics supervillain and occasional antihero.  The film is currently scheduled to be released on December 22, 2021.

Alongside the teaser poster, drawn by DC Comics' chief creative officer Jim Lee, Johnson posted the following statement, "Like most kids growing up, I dreamed about being a superhero.  Having cool superpowers, fighting for what’s right and always protecting the people.  It all changed for me, when I was 10yrs old and was first introduced to the greatest superhero of all time - SUPERMAN.  As a kid, Superman was the hero I always wanted to be.  But, a few years into my fantasy, I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be.  I was too rebellious.  Too rambunctious.  Too resistant to convention and authority.  Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart - I just liked to do things my way.  Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid - my superhero dreams have come true.  I’m honored to join the iconic #DCUniverse and it’s a true pleasure to become, BLACK ADAM.  BLACK ADAM is blessed by magic with the powers equal to SUPERMAN, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line.  He’s a rebellious, one of a kind superhero, who’ll always do what’s right for the people - but he does it his way.  Truth and justice - the BLACK ADAM way.  This role is unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career and I’m grateful to the bone we’ll all go on this journey together.  BLACK ADAM  12.22.21 ⚡️  Huge thank you to my friends, @jimlee and @bosslogic for this first time ever bad ass collaboration."

Johnson has been associated with the project since 2007 and has been confirmed as Black Adam since 2014.  Black Adam was originally planned to be included in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam!, but will make his debut in his own spinoff film instead.

Johnson, 47, has appeared in a number on popular action films, including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Hobbs & Shaw, Skyscraper, Rampage, San Andreas, Fast and the Furious 5, 6, 7 and 8, Moana, the 2014 version of Hercules, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the 2008 Get Smart, The Scorpion King and The Mummy Returns.  And in 2000, Johnson appeared as The Champion in the Star Trek: Voyager TV episode "Tsunkatse."

Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck in 1945, Black Adam first appeared in The Marvel Family #1 as an ancient Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam that was chosen by the wizard Shazam under the presumption that he would be a worthy successor.  Saying the word "Shazam!", Teth-Adam was granted the same powers as the original Captain Marvel, but soon became corrupted by them.

In the recent DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, Black Adam's origin centered around a Kahndaqi boy named Aman, who was forced into abuse and slavery long ago.  Aman had an uncle named Adam, who helped Aman escape slavery.  Adam was injured during their escape, and when Aman was chosen by the wizard to be his champion, Aman shared his power with Adam to heal him.  Afterwards, Aman wanted to use his new power to help his people and cure his former slavemasters of their evil souls, but Adam only sought vengeance against those who had enslaved them.  To this end, when Aman called down the lightning, Adam seemingly killed Aman so that he became the sole recipient of the power.  However, the details of Aman's "death" are not shown, leaving his fate open to speculation.

After encountering Billy Batson shortly after he became Shazam, Black Adam appeared during the Forever Evil storyline, answering Jimmy Olsen's call for help against Ultraman of the Crime Syndicate and teaming up with Sinestro to defeat him.

Johnson will be the first actor to portray Black Adam in live action, although the character has appeared in various animated projects, including The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (voiced by Lou Scheimer), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by John DiMaggio), Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (voiced by Arnold Vosloo), and Justice League Action (voiced by Gary Cole).