BLACK ADAM 2 (2023)
During his recent appearance on Kevin Hart's Hart to Heart show, Dwayne Johnson discussed his long-held passion project, Black Adam, and the challenges it faced over the years. Leading up to the release of Black Adam in October 2022, Johnson had ambitious plans to expand the character and create his own chapter within the DC Universe. However, these plans took a different direction when James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed control and reshaped DC Studios' entire slate. When Hart asked Johnson about his feelings regarding the franchise's interruption, the actor responded, "Black Adam became entangled in a whirlwind of changing leadership. At that time, while we were developing and filming Black Adam, there were numerous shifts in leadership. You see, in a company, especially one of such size and prominence that is publicly traded, new leaders come in with their own creative and financial decisions, which may not align with your vision." Johnson further emphasized that the Black Adam sequel "got ensnared in this web of new leadership" and described its cancellation as "one of the greatest mysteries." "You achieve the biggest opening of your career. Granted, we didn't have China, which could have potentially added $100 to $200 million more," he continued. "We were building a new superhero and wanted to expand the franchise. Bringing back Superman and Henry Cavill created a worldwide frenzy... We were establishing a diverse superhero roster, featuring both men and women of color in Black Adam 2." Despite the movie being one of Johnson's most significant openings and enjoying an 88 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it fell short of expectations. It earned $391 million globally at the box office and received negative reviews from critics, with a 38 percent score. Johnson expressed his disappointment that the sequel wasn't approached from the perspective of the audience's desires. He told Hart, "While we understand the importance of the bottom line economically, we are also dedicated to providing fresh content and meeting the audience's needs. The audience is our top priority, and when this perspective wasn't considered, it added complexity to the situation." In December 2022, Johnson announced that plans for a Black Adam sequel had been halted and would not be resumed in the near future. He stated, "James Gunn and I had discussions, and Black Adam will not be part of their initial storytelling chapter. However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to explore alternative ways to incorporate Black Adam into future DC multiverse narratives." Read the full article