With Black Adam, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson promised to change the "hierarchy of power in the DC Universe." What no one realised is that the former pro wrestler was referring to his planned takeover of the brand.
Johnson intended to build the DC Universe around the Black Adam franchise, enlisting Henry Cavill to return as Superman for a "Black Adam vs. Superman" movie. However, his solo outing opened to negative reviews and grossed only $393.5 million at the worldwide box office.
While some comic book adaptations would kill for numbers like that now, it was deemed a failure in 2022, not least because Black Adam is said to have cost upwards of $260 million after extensive reshoots.
The actor attempted damage control, sharing profitability statements with Deadline and even tried getting fans on board with his vision by announcing a Hawkman movie. Ultimately, Warner Bros. Discovery felt differently, forming DC Studios...and one of the first things James Gunn and Peter Safran did was sever ties with The Rock (though they hinted at possibly working together in the future).
Now, four years after Black Adam's release, Johnson is getting roasted on social media all over again. "Dwayne Johnson's 2022 Pitch for Joker in Black Adam Sequel Draws Laughs" is one of the trending news stories on X, with posts drawing millions of views on the platform.
Much of the conversation centres around an interview clip which sees Johnson tease a meeting with Barry Keoghan's Joker, Superman's return, the importance of the Justice Society to the DCEU, and his ambitious plans for what might best be called the "Dwayne-CEU."
Black Adam was a major blow to the actor's career, and he's still struggling to regain his footing. In quick succession, NBC cancelled Young Rock, his football league, the XFL, fell flat, and a WWE return—which introduced a popular new heel persona, the Final Boss—was marred by controversy.
He received mostly positive reviews for The Smashing Machine, but his expected Oscar nomination never materialised, and a return to blockbuster fare this summer with the live-action Moana proved a disaster.
"I loved making Black Adam. We had a great time. Loved creating those characters and introducing other characters, as well, in that universe," Johnson said earlier this year. "Had a great time. Wish that universe well. And on to others."