Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for “Black Adam.” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as the titular demigod turned anti-hero, a role he’s been dreaming of playing for almost over a decade. As such, this won’t be your typical superhero story, as the trailer teases a darker but somewhat humorous origins story.
The trailer teases Black Adam’s painful history of a slave given a death sentence but reborn as a god. However, his newfound gifts ended up giving him nothing but heartache as his only son sacrificed himself to save his father. And after being freed from his 5,000 year imprisonment, Black Adam is looking to bestow his brand of justice upon the world. Even if that means crossing a few lines.
See Black Adam doesn’t even see the world in black and white. He just operates in the grey area. “In this world, there are heroes, and there are villains,” Carter Hall (Aldis Hodge) aka Hawkman says. “Heroes don’t kill people.”
“Well, I do,” Black Adam sternly replies.
In the comics, Black Adam is often portrayed as the antagonist and often times serves as the villain to Shazam. But unlike the stiff charismatic straightlaced heroes he typically places, portraying Black Adam as the anti-hero gives Johnson more room to play a darker and more edgy role. One that is powerful enough to take down the likes of the JSA singlehandedly.
And given his power set and his anger, Black Adam will be more than a formidable match to the likes of the JSA, an early precursor to today’s Justice League. Hawkman, Doctor Fate (Pierce Bronson), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) can convince the demigod to join their team.
Here’s the official plot synopsis for the film:
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods— and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who uses a screenplay written by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, screen story by Adam Sztykiel and Rory Haines & Sohrab Noshirvani, based on characters from DC. Black Adam was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. The film’s producers were Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia, with Richard Brener, Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Eric McLeod, Geoff Johns and Scott Sheldon.
