Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe has been through the wringer. Failed movies, bad creative decisions (both in front of and behind the camera), and a general disregard of the source material have left the DCEU in tatters. What started as promising counter-programming to the Marvel formula is now trying its level best to reassemble itself.
Enter Dwayne Johnson.
Now a bona fide movie star, The Rock has been eyed by both Warner Bros. and Disney for a long time to join its respective pool of superheroes. Two years ago, Johnson announced that the "hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change," followed by the news that he was cast as Black Adam. Since then, he has used this tagline at DC FanDome, the trailer reveals, and general tweets. But what does this truly mean?
The Current State of Affairs
When the DCEU kicked off with Man of Steel, the presence of a Wayne satellite in the third act cemented the fact that the film took place in a world where Batman exists. Following this, director Zack Snyder slowly yet surely began to construct his very own DC universe. Gritty, grounded, and dark, his versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman were grand and had a god-like quality.
Then 2017's Justice League happened.
The original lineup included Aquaman, Flash, Cyborg, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, with Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter's potential to join the ranks. Justice League tanked in the box office, and in a now very well-known uprising, Snyder got his chance to tell his original story. With this roster, which superhero holds the majority of the power? Arguably, Superman and Wonder Woman are the strongest of the lot, so is this the "hierarchy of power" that Black Adam is about to change?
Who is Black Adam?
Who exactly is Black Adam, and is he as strong as Johnson purports him to be? Having been granted the superhuman powers of ancient Egyptian gods, Black Adam takes the cake for being one of the stronger metahumans. More frequently an adversary to Shazam, he has been billed (sometimes) as an antihero-teetering on the edge of villainy but rarely ever fully crossing over. His use of magic and overall ideology makes him a powerful contender, but going so far as to say that he is stronger than Superman and Wonder Woman combined is somewhat of a stretch. Now, something to consider when discussing the superhero hierarchy is the other characters who will show up in Black Adam.
Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and Atom Smasher were recently revealed to have a significant presence in the film. All this to say that the film attempts to retcon the Justice League and replace it with the Justice Society of America (JSA).
A Path Forward?
Introducing the JSA is an interesting plot twist in the overall plan for the DCEU. Fans did not see this coming, and although the cadre of heroes being introduced is welcomed, Warner Bros.' direction is going with is a little questionable. Would these heroes become the new Justice League? Seeing as Henry Cavil's presence in the DC Universe is up in the air, could this be how things will play out? If Superman is not going to be a significant presence in this new framing of the DCEU, then yes, bringing in Black Adam would definitely change the power structure.
But his absence still has not been fully explained, and this year's The Flash will seemingly introduce Supergirl to the mix. How would all this impact Dwayne Johnson's ambitious statement? Perhaps he is hinting at something bigger. It's quite possible that fans are hyper-focused on Black Adam as a character and should maybe zoom out and take Black Adam as a film into consideration.
With so many strong characters being introduced for the first time on-screen in Black Adam, and with Warner Bros. deciding to put Supergirl and Batgirl on a pedestal in The Flash and Batgirl films, there is a case for the argument that the overall power structure will change moving forward.
Johnson's statement has solidified the fact that his version of Black Adam is here to stay. There's no way that Warner Bros. gave him so much creative liberty just for a single (or trilogy) movie. There seems to be a bigger plan at play here, and it's nothing like what the DC Universe has looked like thus far.
Shining the spotlight on the women of DC, like Supergirl, Wonder Woman, and Batgirl, allows them to form the new trinity of DC. Together with the introduction of members of the JSA and the unending popularity of Johnson as an actor, the pieces are starting to slot into place. This could undeniably be the beginning of a new DC Universe.