DC's first blockbuster movie for 2022 stars one of the biggest movie stars in the world, as Dwayne Johnson will tackle the role of Black Adam this summer. However, Johnson is already hyped up over a future encounter his character might have with Superman, in a duel that’s already sparked plenty of fanart.
The first big Black Adam teaser was revealed last October during DC FanDome as fans got a glimpse at the sheer violence Teth-Adam is capable of unleashing, especially after the ultra-fit Johnson spent extra time getting in even better shape for the role. Contrary to the type of characters Johnson tends to play, this time he’ll have to channel his darker side to convince audiences Black Adam can be a Loki of sorts for DC.
Nevertheless, Loki never had to go against Superman, which is the crossover event Johnson is probably the most excited about, even if he doesn’t know which actor he’ll face when the time comes. For artist Rahal Nejraoui (@rahalarts) there is no second-best Superman to Henry Cavill. That is why he chose him as the inspiration for this hyperrealistic render that looks on par with most things one would see in theaters, all with the hope that the studio decides to bring back The Witcher star in the near future.
The scene arguably does take after Zack Snyder's preferred color palette for the DCEU. Plus, Johnson's stare looks much darker than the two juggernauts’ previous encounters in DC Comics, dating back to 1982’s DC Comics Presents #49, 2005’s Action Comics #831, and the latest of these in 2017’s Doomsday Clock storyline. Besides those, the two also clashed in 2010's minor animated short Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, all of which could offer source material for a potential cinematic battle.
Now, despite Rahalarts' wish to see his favorite Superman return, plus Cavill's confessed willingness to reprise the role, it seems like there are different plans in place for the character, with Michael B. Jordan already set to produce a Superman TV series starring Val-Zod. As Marvel and DC veteran James Gunn has discussed recently, DC tends to rely less on crossovers because their characters often have more solo stories to pick from, whereas Marvel never forgets all its heroes exist within the same multiverse.
One thing fans might want to keep in mind is that for all of Black Adam's perceived brutality, it’s unlikely the anti-hero will push things too far, as not even The Batman could get past a PG-13 rating. So if Bruce Wayne doesn't get special treatment, it's hard to imagine any other upcoming DC heroes going past that.
Black Adam is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 29, 2022.
Source: @rahalarts|Instagram
