At long last, we know when the Black Adam movie will hit theaters. As announced by star Dwayne Johnson, the DC Comics adaptation is scheduled to hit theaters on December 22, 2021. The long-gestating project has finally gained some real traction, with Warner Bros. ready to get filming underway. Johnson shared the following post on Instagram to make the announcement. 

“The Man in Black. 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,” Jonson said. 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.m 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.

The wrestler-turned-actor formerly known as The Rock has been attached to the role for the better part of a decade. Originally, the idea was to have him play the part in Shazam, as the hero’s arch-nemesis. However, as Johnson gained more global superstardom, plans changed. Eventually, he convinced Warner Bros. and DC Films that Black Adam was worthy of his own film first. So, that’s what we’re getting. 

But hardcore DC fans may take issue with the way Johnson is positioning the character in this post. While the poster he shared certainly looks authentic to the character, he is by no means a hero. In the pages of DC Comics, he’s a villain, plain and simple. Yet, here, Johnson is positioning him as a superhero. Or, at worst, an anti-here. Either way, that’s likely to be a far cry from the version of the figure who has historically duked it out with Shazam. 

Jaume Collet-Serra (The Jungle Cruise) is on board to direct, with filming expected to begin summer 2020. The hope is that, after Shazam 2, these characters will meet and duke it out on the big screen. Fingers crossed on that one. 

So what do you think? Are you excited that Black Adam is finally getting off the ground? Should he have stayed a villain as opposed to getting his own movie first? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!