If you're a DC Comics fan, you'll likely be aware that Black Adam is a pretty ruthless dude with no qualms about putting his hand right through someone's head (yes, that's a Psycho Pirate reference) if they get in his way.
Of course, it's a lot easier to depict a character's violent nature on the page than it is on screen - especially if you're trying to avoid an R-rating.
While speaking to Collider, Black Adam producers Beau Flynn and Hiram Garcia revealed that the film was originally hit with the more adult-oriented rating, and it took “four rounds” of cuts for the MPA to agree to lower the rating to the desired PG-13.
“We really wanted to make sure that we honored the character of Black Adam," said Garcia. "One of the things he's known for is his aggression and violence, and to do a Black Adam movie that didn't have that just wouldn’t have been authentic. So we always went into this knowing that we were going to push it as far as we did. We knew it was going to be a collaborative process with the MPAA to finally get it to where we were able, to get that rating, but we were able to pull it off. But it was really important for us to do that. And that's something Dwayne was very committed to as well.”
“We did have to make a lot of edits, actually,” added Flynn. “There are some great moments when Black Adam is in the fly bike chase sequence and drops one of the gang soldiers. Then there’s this great moment where the truck bounces over the body. But those are moments that you need and remember in these movies, you know what I mean? You can’t play it safe, and you have to go for it. And I think we have four or five of those. At one point we had about ten, and we were able to find some compromise with the MPA on that.”
Based on what we've been hearing, Black Adam is still pretty full-on for a PG-13 movie, and manages to push the limits of the rating when it comes to violence.
Social media reactions have been mixed, but the full review embargo lifts later today, so be sure to check back then for the critical consensus.
"From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action adventure Black Adam. The first-ever feature film to explore the story of the DC Super Hero comes to the big screen under the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra (“Jungle Cruise”). Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods— and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world."
Johnson stars alongside Aldis Hodge (City on a Hill, One Night in Miami) as Hawkman, Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi (Sex/Life, Rush Hour 3) as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari (Murder on the Orient Express, The Mummy) as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell (Voyagers, Trinkets) as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui (A Million Little Things) as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan (the Mamma Mia! and James Bond franchises) as Dr. Fate.
Black Adam will be released nationwide on 21st October 2022 by Warner Bros. Pictures.