By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
According to Associated Press, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has stated that he will play a role in an upcoming DC Comics film. Many fans believe he has the charm and looks to pull off being Shazam. There is beauty in those words, and to picture this former WWE wrestler belt out those words on-screen will have some people cheering. But for Johnson, if he had the choice for which character to play, his preference is Black Adam, a supervillain and rival to the hero. He was an ancient Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam who was thought to have been virtuous, but was not when the powers he gained corrupted him.
For this fan, the hope is for Adam. The Rock played the nefarious Scorpion King, a character which started his rise to Hollywood fame. The two villains have Ancient Egyptian roots who share similarities in terms of how they were granted power. To have this tiny nod can go a long way since Johnson has moreorless prepared for the role. It will also please some fans of The Rock’s works.
Either way, to hear about this seminal superhero make his way to the silver screen is exciting. Shazam is better known as Captain Marvel, and was created by artist C.C. Beck and writer Bill Parker back in 1939. His powers and his name is an amalgamation (and be an acronym) of the powers of six mythical figures — Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury.
Popularity between this mythic hero and Superman led to some contention, and even a lawsuit by DC Comics alleging that Marvel was a copy of Supes. Instead of fully fighting it, Fawcett Publishing ceased publication. Fast forward to the 90’s, DC Comics bought out the rights and merged the mythos into their own universe thus ending the feud.
If comparisons had to be made, one hero is the seminal boy scout (Superman) and the other is the penultimate kid (Shazam) who has yet to understand adulthood and the responsibilities it entails. To see that youthful charm and abated wonder will be easy peasy for Johnson. He can play either role with ease when considering his resume. He’s appeared in family entertainment movies like Planet 51 and The Tooth Fairy where he shows a great pension for being very charming to youths on-screen and off.
Put him in movies like G.I. Joe: Retaliation or Fast & Furious 6, and viewers will find him just as rough and tumble too. No matter what role the producers will put him in, there’s no doubt he will give his all to the part.
“I am putting my heart and soul and my bones into this role,” Johnson said to the Associated Press.
As for when this movie will happen, no official release date is announced. It will no doubt be part of the cumulation that needs to happen in order to make way for the Justice League movie.
Source: Variety
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