The critics may have been unimpressed with Dwayne Johnson’s superhero debut, but audiences are rallying behind The Rock’s larger-than-life anti-hero. As of Sunday night, Rotten Tomatoes had the fan score at a whopping 90%, which is more than double the much-publicized 40% from critics. In the end, that fan reception is what pays the bills, and it helped Johnson to his largest opening weekend score ever with $67 million.
The massive fan support has been enough to usher Black Adam to the front of the DCEU line, and Warner Bros./DC Films is already planning the next movie. Speaking with ComicBook, Hiram Garcia, president of productions at Johnson’s Seven Buck Productions, explained that it won’t take a decade to get the next installment up and running. “Don’t worry. This one will be fast.”
What could we expect from the next Black Adam movie? Here are a few ideas.
THE JSA VS. THE JLA
Black Adam was not only a vehicle for introducing Teth-Adam to the masses, but it brought the Justice Society of America into the DCEU fold. By the end of the movie, the Black Adam we see onscreen is much more friendly and more diplomatic than his comic counterpart. He destroyed the throne and vowed to protect the people of Kahndaq as their protector. No doubt that will be an integral part of the plot of the film, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him join the Justice Society, either.
The two biggest teases came in the film’s fan-pleasing mid-credits scene. Obviously, we will see Black Adam square off with Superman, a moment Johnson has said won’t be a one-off, five-minute brawl. In fact, we could see an all-out fight between the Justice Society and the Justice League in the future.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
While Superman’s arrival may have foreshadowed Black Adam’s next opponent, there’s another character who is clearly being positioned as the real puppet master at work: Amanda Waller. Played brilliantly by Viola Davis, The Suicide Squad and Black Adam have painted her as the anti-Nick Fury only she’s more ruthless and possibly more intelligent.
Waller is in a position of immense political power with eyes and ears virtually everywhere. The fact that she has the sway to call in Superman for backup speaks volumes. But the Man of Steel may not be her only weapon against Kahndaq’s protector.
Waller could bring in another version of the Suicide Squad to reel in Black Adam. After all, she recruits members who are capable of taking down Superman. Don’t forget that Idris Elba’s Bloodsport was said to have shot Kal-El with a Kryptonite bullet, which was one of many reasons he was in the maximum security prison. Along with the rest of the team, they managed to kill Starro, making the Suicide Squad a viable threat to Black Adam.
SHAZAM
With all the hype for Superman, Shazam has been left out of the Black Adam conversation. As tantalizing as a Superman/Black Adam fight sounds, don’t forget that he and Billy Batson are fundamentally connected. That makes a meeting between the two inevitable.
We obviously won’t see their showdown in Shazam: Fury of the Gods, but that is likely part of the larger plan. Storywise, it gives Billy more time to learn how to control his powers and get a few fights under his belt before taking on Black Adam. While it may seem like Adam is far more powerful, at least in the DCEU, that’s not the case.
The two share the same abilities, and they feasibly have the same power levels. The difference is that Teth-Adam was a grown man when he gained his magic whereas Billy was a teenager. By the time they meet on the big screen, the playing field could be level.
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