DC Comics released the first official Black Adam trailer today, giving fans their first look at Dwayne Johnson as the titular morally ambiguous antihero, who is the enemy of Shazam, played by Zachary Levi in the DC Extended Universe. Johnson posted the release date of the Black Adam trailer two weeks ago on Instagram.
Teth-Adam (Johnson) is introduced in the Black Adam trailer as a man born into slavery in the fictional North African country of Kahndaq sometime in the distant past. Though Teth-Adam is killed by his enslavers, he is resurrected by a magical bolt of lightning seemingly summoned by his son just before the boy dies from the strain of the ritual.
The death of Teth-Adam’s son leads to his radicalisation, and emboldens him to use his newfound powers (including superhuman strength, invulnerability, and the ability to fly) to seek a type of justice so brutal that those around him are forced to lock him away. He has now been released from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique brand of justice on the modern world.
In a voiceover, Pierce Brosnan’s Dr Fate establishes the moral dilemma that Black Adam will face in the film: ‘You have two choices. You can be the destroyer of this world, or you can be its saviour.’
In addition to Johnson as Black Adam, we get a first look at other characters in the Jaume Collet-Serra-directed film, including Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell’s Cyclone.
You can check out the Black Adam trailer below:
As he prepared to make his debut in the Black Adam trailer, Johnson took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank fans for their support.
Sharing some behind-the-scenes photos, he wrote: ‘Your unwavering support and relentless excitement for this passion project of mine has meant the world to me. Now it’s my turn to deliver for you. The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is changing.’
First revealing the project back in 2019, Johnson said in an Instagram post that the role of Black Adam was ‘unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career.’
Johnson was, however, interested in playing another DC superhero for a long time. But, unlike Black Adam, he couldn’t connect with that character.
‘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.’
He added that 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.’
Black Adam will hit cinemas on 21 October 2022.
