In a time where lots of different actors take on roles in comic book movies as superheroes, we always marvel (pun intended) at the dramatic changes their physique goes through to fit in their tights. One such physique that demands to be a superhero is that of Dwayne Johnson, who had yet to get in on the popular genre. That is until he had talks with DC and had chosen to take on the role of Black Adam.
TotalFilm gives us an exclusive new behind-the-scenes look at Johnson in the titular role of Black Adam, along with some new insight from the wrestler-turned-actor. Johnson describes this character as a “once-in-a-career” character. Johnson is no stranger to playing a morally ambiguous character, having been one back when he was The Rock in the WWE. However, for most of his movie career, he’s played the hero.
Johnson feels Black Adam is set apart from other superheroes because the character’s personal ethics may not always be the most noble.
Johnson tells TotalFilm,
I think Black Adam is going to be a departure from what people have seen of me onscreen over the decades. I wanted to make sure that I brought Black Adam to life, knowing that it was a departure from what I had played before in the past, because there’s a lot of elements about Black Adam that are dependent on your perspective. Is he a supervillain? Is he an antihero? To some, he is just a straight-up superhero. There are just natural elements, I think, in me, that are part of my DNA that we see in the character of Black Adam. [But] it is a departure from anything that I’ve played before in the past. A complete departure.”
Johnson basically describes Black Adam as “What if Superman was a little more unhinged?”
He continues,
What makes Black Adam very unique and different is that he lives by a code, too. If you attempt to harm his people, his family, his country, or him, he will rip you in half. He will literally grab you by the neck, and then grab you by the thigh, and rip your body into two pieces!”
Black Adam releases in theaters this fall on October 21st.
Are you excited? Do you think he’ll do the role justice?