It Was Always the Plan for Black Adam to Change the DC Universe

Black Adam also gives Johnson a chance to do something entirely new in the world of superheroes because the character has never been brought to life in live action. “I love that there was no reference, he says. “We have the opportunity to do this from scratch.”

Johnson’s dreams for the “Black Adam Universe” extend far beyond just this year’s movie. The chance to explore the wider DC canon and rediscover all the “weird and complex” characters is something the star and producer finds exhilarating.

“When you look at DC’s pantheon of characters there are so many great ones,” he says. “You just have to extrapolate them out of the DC Bible, put them on a whiteboard individually, break it all down, and really go deep into their backstories and their superpowers and their complexities. It’s so exciting.”

But introducing one of DC’s most powerful heroes and their oldest and most storied superteam to the big screen DC Universe is a huge responsibility, and not one that Johnson takes lightly, “Don’t fuck it up,” he says. “We have this opportunity to deliver something that the fans have waited a long time for.”

Those fans are one of the most important driving factors in all Johnson’s choices.

“It’s also how I like to operate in our business,” he shares, “Let’s not go for what we know could be a successful movie. Let’s go for something that has not been seen. Let’s fucking go for it! Not only that, but let’s really listen to the fans, because they will always guide you.”