New report claims Dwayne Johnson tried to rule DC universe with Black Adam

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As new bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran put the finishing touches on their plan for the first phase of an interconnected DC universe, new details are coming to light about how Dwayne Johnson tried to muscle in with his own vision.

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According to Variety, prior to Black Adam’s release last fall, Johnson pitched Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav on a multi-film franchise for the DC anti-hero along with the return of Henry Cavill’s Superman. “The two properties would interweave, setting up a Superman-versus-Black Adam showdown,” sources told the trade.

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Johnson’s producing partners, his former brother-in-law Hiram Garcia and Beau Flynn, were reportedly part of the pitch that would have seen DC embark on a new storytelling path.

But Johnson’s tactics allegedly rubbed some people the wrong way.

“Dwayne went around everyone, which didn’t sit well,” one insider tells Variety.

First, he pushed for a producing credit on the animated DC League of Super-Pets, “but did little to promote it.” The actor also pushed for a tequila bar featuring his Teremana brand to be part of Black Adam’s New York premiere, even though it was being marketed as a family-friendly adventure.

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“His demands increased and the returns just weren’t there,” a source tells Variety.

The news comes after announcements that Gunn and Safran will shake up DC’s upcoming film slate, dropping Cavill’s Man of Steel sequel and nixing Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 treatment.

Johnson also confirmed last month that a sequel to Black Adam would not be moving ahead.

“James Gunn and I connected, and Black Adam will not be in their first chapter of storytelling,” Johnson wrote in a statement. “However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.”

Gunn responded to Johnson’s message, tweeting, “Love the Rock and I’m always excited to see what he and Seven Bucks do next. Can’t wait to collaborate soon.”

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Black Adam was a passion project for Johnson, who spent over a decade relentlessly pushing to play the character on the big screen.

“It was a 15-year long process, fighting,” Johnson told Postmedia at the film’s Canadian premiere in October.

Johnson’s plan was to develop new DC films centring on other Black Adam characters, including the Justice Society of America, as well as a Black Adam vs. Superman showdown, which was teased in the film’s end-credits scene.

During the film’s promotional tour, the line, “The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change,” was frequently used to plug Black Adam’s release.

But with just US$391 million at the worldwide box office, Black Adam was a financial disappointment, with Variety reporting the film was on track to lose as much as $100 million. Johnson went on the offensive to refute that claim issuing his own story to Deadline, proclaiming Black Adam was profitable.

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Still, regardless of who is right, the film was very costly to make. According to The Hollywood Reporter, its $190 million production budget reportedly escalated to $260 million after 20 days of reshoots.

Cavill, who departed his starring role in Netflix’s The Witcher and announced his return as the Man of Steel, was forced to issue a statement confirming he was hanging up his cape after Gunn and Safran opted to go in a different direction for DC’s next Superman movie.

A cameo he has filmed alongside Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot for next year’s Flash movie has reportedly also been nixed.

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As the dust settles, Variety reports that Gunn and Safran aren’t completely wiping the slate clean.

With Flash star Ezra Miller getting help for his mental health issues, some execs are open to having him stay on as DC’s iconic Scarlet Speedster if his solo film proves successful when it hits theatres in June.

Likewise, if their sophomore films are a hit, Jason Momoa and Zachery Levi could return as Aquaman and Shazam, respectively.

Even Batgirl directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah would be willing to work with Warner Bros., despite the cancellation of their unreleased DC film.

“We’re fans of DC, and if we get the chance in the future to do something in that universe, we’re never gonna say no,” El Arbi said at last month’s Red Sea Film Festival.

In an interview with Postmedia in November, Gunn said he was drawn to the challenge of taking over DC because of the possibility of telling an interconnected story across film and television.

“It’s simply telling the big story,” Gunn said. “Getting to tell the biggest story ever told is what excited me about it.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com