Black Adam star Dwayne Johnson has revealed that Warner Bros. Henry Cavill didn’t want to return as Superman. In a video celebrating the DC Comics movie that topped the Apple TV chart in the US, the actor praised Cavill’s return during the post-credits scene, before snapping some shots of the bigger figures playing at DC Films (now DC Studios). “In the end, the studio didn’t bring Henry Cavill back — inexplicably and unforgivably,” he said, further emphasizing that the idea has been in the works for years. “But we didn’t want to take no for an answer.”
Johnson went on to express his appreciation for Cavill’s take on Superman, calling him the “greatest” and noting that everything in the DC Comics universe goes back to him. “There was no way, there is no viable, logical way that you could try to build out the DC Universe without the strongest force and greatest superhero of all time sitting on the sidelines. It is impossible to do.” An earlier report suggested that Johnson spent the past four years hatching the idea for Cavill’s return as Superman, which was rejected by DC Films president Walter Hamada, who wanted to stray far from Zack Snyder’s base and continuity.
Thank you so much from my old pickup truck for all the great stuff #BlackAdam support and responses
#1 movie on iTunes ?
We also stay in the cinema during the holidays ??⚡️
I also wanted to give you something #Superman information ??
Happy ?? pic.twitter.com/WyGa49J7Dr— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 23, 2022
The disapproval prompted Johnson to turn the heads of Warner Bros. Pictures, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who are shooting Cavill in Black Adam. At the time, Hamada had plans to introduce a Black Superman based on fictional US President Calvin Ellis from Earth-23 in DC Comics. The executive has now quietly left the studio and heads the horror genre at Paramount Pictures.
Meanwhile, Cavill confirmed he’s back to play the red-hooded superhero, with reports claiming a Man of Steel sequel is in the Warner Bros. franchise. Discovery offices plays. Charles Roven (The Dark Knight) is determined to produce as the hunt for writers continues.
Now that Black Adam and the Justice Society of America (JSA) have been introduced to the public, Johnson intends to build out the DC Universe “good, strategic, and smart”. “Again, the power hierarchy in the DC Universe has changed,” he said, referring to the newly appointed co-heads of the brand new DC Studios, filmmaker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. The pair will oversee all upcoming DC Comics movies, shows, and animated projects – the former tending to the creative side, while the latter takes care of business on the corporate and production end.
Released on October 20 Black Adam grossed a worldwide total of $378.1 million (approximately Rs. 3,090 crore), as it introduced a number of new superheroes to the DC Universe. The film marks The Rock’s best opening weekend as a lead actor. Black Adam is now available on video-on-demand platforms in the US. An India OTT date has not been announced.
