Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Reveals Why He Chose To Play 'Black Adam' Instead Of 'Shazam'

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Reveals Why He Chose To Play 'Black Adam' Instead Of 'Shazam'

Confirming that he had a choice between playing Black Adam and Shazam, Furious 7 star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reveals the reason he chose the villain/anti-hero over the heroic member of the Justice League, and talks about developing the movie since as far back as 2007...

News
By JoshWilding - Mar 31, 2015 07:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Shazam
Source: Digital Spy

Talking to Digital Spy in the video interview above to promote Furious 7, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reveals why he decided to choose the role of Black Adam over Shazam in the 2019 movie. "Because I felt ultimately, and this is with all due respect to Shazam/Billy Batson, it's a mythology that I love; it's been with me for almost ten years now; what made me choose Black Adam? I just felt Black Adam was inherently more interesting to me because I felt there were more layers to Black Adam starting out as a slave and then ultimately becoming the anti-hero who we enjoy today." To hear even more from the actor (including how fans influenced his decision), keep watching the video. What do you think about these comments? Share your thoughts below. 
About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
A lifelong comic book fan who grew up on Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the '90s, Josh Wilding has been contributing to ComicBookMovie.com since 2009.

While he's also written for websites like Batman-News, HeyUGuys, and WhatCulture, Josh is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic for CBM and the site's #1 contributor with nearly two decades of experience covering film and TV news (including interviews with Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Gary Oldman, Halle Berry, Jon Bernthal, Tom Welling, and hundreds more).

Based in the UK with his wife, Josh is also an avid WWE and Formula 1 fan and writes about those passions on CBM's sister sites, TheRingReport.com and FullThrottleHQ.com. Favourite superhero? Spider-Man. Favourite pro wrestler? CM Punk. Favourite F1 driver? Max Verstappen.
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BatHeis
BatHeis - 3/31/2015, 8:01 AM
Sounds good. Hopefully we get some official DCCU news somewhat soon.
TronVin
TronVin - 3/31/2015, 8:04 AM
I'm hoping one day for a Legion of Doom film based on Forever Evil with The Rock as Black Adam and Jesse as Luthor.
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx - 3/31/2015, 8:07 AM
It's getting quite repetitive to hear him talking up the movie when it doesn't release for another 4 years. It was best described on the lastest Schmoes/DC Movie News when they said how WB doesn't have a script, a leading man, or director, yet Johnson has already spoiled that Black Adam will turn good and most likely appear in a Justice League movie. It's just hard to get pumped right now.
Enphlieuwince
Enphlieuwince - 3/31/2015, 8:08 AM
He's going to be awesome.
TronVin
TronVin - 3/31/2015, 8:08 AM
@TheCardist

He did say the movie could release sooner.

CASH
CASH - 3/31/2015, 8:08 AM
Honestly,why would The Rock (of all people) want to portray a child in a man's body with super powers? I'd choose black Adam too.
SuperCat
SuperCat - 3/31/2015, 8:08 AM
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Glad he chose Black Adam. Think they should cast someone younger for Captain Marvel.
Monitorearthprime
Monitorearthprime - 3/31/2015, 8:11 AM
If he had choosen Shazam, I fill the fan backlash would have to much for him.
TronVin
TronVin - 3/31/2015, 8:11 AM
@DrunkenNukem

I think Black Adam is far more interesting than the O.G. Captain Marvel but I think Shazam is up there with Black Adam.



batz11
batz11 - 3/31/2015, 8:12 AM
Was hoping for Joe Man for Shazam, but if he's Deathstroke, that will be awesome too!
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/31/2015, 8:13 AM

I have a love hate relationship with actors who say they like the complexity of a character… Just say you think he's a cool anti hero and you wanted to play that role. You don't need to sound like your taking on a role like Kirk Lazarus and making a monumental breakthrough with an interesting take on a character. They are all interesting characters!
Rant Ova!
ALegendaryPanda
ALegendaryPanda - 3/31/2015, 8:15 AM
I'm glad he chose Black Adam, he's perfect for that role. Now if we could just get an earlier release date...
FordEl
FordEl - 3/31/2015, 8:17 AM
Dont blame him. He's played the charismatic hero many times before. He hasnt really explored his villain side which he can now finally do
craptastic4
craptastic4 - 3/31/2015, 8:17 AM
If they made this ten years ago like they should have Patrick Warburton would've been perfect.
blackandyellow
blackandyellow - 3/31/2015, 8:19 AM
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 3/31/2015, 8:20 AM
But all in all, Rock should've been Shazam.. He plays a getty school boy way too well.

DaVinci31
DaVinci31 - 3/31/2015, 8:21 AM
You guys should check this theory out on what exactly is going on with this Shazam Project, by John Campea:

https://youtu.be/Q1cJ-Gvv6WE?t=23m55s

It would be very risky, but, given that I now really want this prediction to come true, some of you might find this intriguing, as well.
MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 3/31/2015, 8:21 AM
Definitely one of my favourite castings in the DCCU. Him and Jesse Eisenberg.
batz11
batz11 - 3/31/2015, 8:24 AM
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 3/31/2015, 8:26 AM
He's... Right. Black Adam is more interesting than Shazam in that aspect but let's not forget who movie this is.

Awesome casting.
SteveStark2099
SteveStark2099 - 3/31/2015, 8:30 AM
At least he acknowledged Billy
Pasto
Pasto - 3/31/2015, 8:33 AM
LionPepsiJuice
LionPepsiJuice - 3/31/2015, 8:34 AM
It's great that he decided to be Black Adam over Shazam. He seems to have a lot of passion for the character. Plus that leaves the role of Shazam open for Bryan Cranston to play.
Pasto
Pasto - 3/31/2015, 8:35 AM
Leave it to Jack White to look like he's plotting world domination.
Darkjedi41
Darkjedi41 - 3/31/2015, 8:37 AM
I am looking forward to BvS, SS, and then this movie. The other DC movies I think will be good, but I think he will totally nail Black Adam and will end up stealing the show in the DCU.
Hellboy6666
Hellboy6666 - 3/31/2015, 8:44 AM
@DaVinci31
John Campea doesn't know which end of a dog is the butt. His theories are those of remedial students. He makes sitting through AMC movie chat painful sometimes.
RexDartEskimoSpy
RexDartEskimoSpy - 3/31/2015, 8:46 AM
He's right, of course. Black Adam would be a way more interesting and fun role for an actor to play. I just doubt that The Rock is that actor.

I'll be relieved if he proves me wrong - I'd love a great Shazam movie - but I'm not getting my hopes up.
Highflyer
Highflyer - 3/31/2015, 8:47 AM
I really hope they go wit the new 52 origin. Very disturbing.
black adam's origin story (new 52)
black adam's origin story (new 52)
Hellboy6666
Hellboy6666 - 3/31/2015, 8:47 AM
Speaking of ridiculous theories, I think The Rock might actually have been encouraged by the studio to play Black Adam. I can't imagine they would want the guy who looks exactly like Black Adam to instead play Shazam.
McGee
McGee - 3/31/2015, 8:50 AM
m0th3r
m0th3r - 3/31/2015, 8:57 AM
@DaVinci31 Yea, Campea is wrong a lot with his theories...and he seems to carry the water for movies that are clearly a mess sometimes with no logic..I do watch for Schnepp though. :) And they do score some decent guests like Synder, Feige, Russo Brothers or Gunn


The theory is interesting, like Shazam/Black Adam are aspects and he changes from one to the another based on his good/evilness...but i doubt that one seriously.


Justsomenerd
Justsomenerd - 3/31/2015, 8:58 AM
I think that the Rock will do a good job as Black Adam, he certainly looks the part.

However, I don't think that Black Adam is an anti-hero, though I have not read all of the new 52 so.. Anti-Hero: a protagonist who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities or is a main character in a story who lacks conventional heroic qualities such as idealism, courage, and morality. Black Adam is only an anti-hero in his own comic book or movie. He is the antagonist. He is a cold blooded murderer, not an anti hero. I hope that Black Adam isn't turned into a lesser villain to make him more "relatable". Black Adam is an awesome villain.
Jordanstine
Jordanstine - 3/31/2015, 9:02 AM
"I felt ultimately, and this is with all due respect to Shazam/Billy Batson, it's a mythology that I love; I just felt Black Adam was inherently more interesting to me"

^ that comment by the Rock inadvertently cast a huge shadow over whomever actor will be cast as Shazam, considering the lead is supposedly not as inherently interesting.
RexDartEskimoSpy
RexDartEskimoSpy - 3/31/2015, 9:03 AM
I hope they don't go with a whitebread Billy/Captain Marvel/Shazam/whatever they end up calling him. There's some unsettling (Unintentional?) racist undertones with the wizard giving a brown guy magic powers then regretting it and going with a white replacement. Having the Rock play the Captain would avoid that.
Darkjedi41
Darkjedi41 - 3/31/2015, 9:04 AM
@highflyer what comic is that from?
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