DCEU’s new Black Adam trailer shows a little more dialogue although it doesn’t minimize the show of action. Introducing a host of new and powerful characters from DC Comics, the upcoming film rarely gives way to speculation about the quality of its delivery. Fans, at the moment, have been counting on the Red Notice star’s ability to deliver box office successes but with his fiery DC entry, it looks like he will do more than deliver cinema — The Rock plans to reclaim DC’s hierarchy itself.
Black Adam‘s Hawkman Raises Questions About Morality
In the DCEU film, Black Adam, Dwayne Johnson portrays Teth Adam who, after being granted the powers of ancient gods, misuses them for vengeance and is consequently imprisoned for 5000 years, thus becoming Black Adam. The film delivers The Rock’s character in the present timeline, where reality does little to ground him, instead, it gives him reassurance about how this world’s “magic” aka ammunition is weak.
The Justice League of America is also introduced to the DC Extended Universe, including Pierce Brosnan‘s Dr. Fate, Aldis Hodge‘s Hawkman, and Noah Centineo‘s Atom Smasher — three incredibly celebrated heroes from the vast comics of DC. However, after the latest trailer of Johnson’s film surfaced, doubts have gathered among the fandom about DC trying to pull a Marvel by throwing out the source and digressing from its original comic arc, especially in its portrayal of Hawkman.
The DC, if anything, has largely stayed true to its comic origins. But Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman in Black Adam, which marks the comic hero’s cinematic debut, is resounding in his intentions of not killing. This might be a problem for the fandom since the character in all of its confusing comic reboots had one thing constant — his indifference about killing. The begrudging tone with which the cinematic Hawkman asks (or rather, orders) Black Adam to stop killing goes directly against his comic-described persona and raises serious questions about how or why the newly emerged morality is such a defining factor to the character now.
Fans Respond to Hawkman’s “Stop Killing” Comment
The crowd, growing increasingly impatient in their wait, has resorted to examining the minute-by-minute progression of Black Adam‘s arrival at the theatres. Dwayne Johnson has kept the mob frenzy at bay by feeding the fans with enough speculation to build up anticipation about the film and its aftermath. However, as far as his DCEU debut goes, one factor has managed to snag the public’s attention, i.e. Hawman’s “no-kill policy” — which has given the fans enough to think about.
It is not news that Black Adam is attempting to rewrite DCEU’s history and overshadow the building differences and multiple controversies within Warner Bros. If successful, the dominion it will lay in the years to come will be heralded as the second coming of the DC Extended Universe and establish itself as the foundation for the new and clearer path to help make David Zaslav’s future vision come true.
Black Adam premieres in theatres on October 21, 2022.
