Dwayne Johnson isn’t wrong to point out how Warner Bros.’ constantly evolving leadership may have led to a less-than-stellar product. Note that the wrestler-turned-blockbuster actor had been attached to the DC role since 2007, per /Film. It wasn’t until 2014 that Johnson and Warner Bros. were ready to move forward with the project. During 2014, the film would have been a part of the so-called “SnyderVerse,” which is when director Zack Snyder was (mostly) at the helm of the DC’s live-action projects. Following the release of 2017’s “Justice League,” Snyder was no longer holding a major creative position within the franchise. It was around this time that Warner Bros. became a subsidiary of AT&T, which led to a regime change.
After a revolving door of creatives attached to the project, “Black Adam” landed on Jaume Collet-Serra as its director. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed filming back to 2021. While speaking with Hart, Johnson discussed how the COVID-19 shutdowns impacted the film’s production. Nevertheless, the film moved forward when restrictions were lifted. However, Warner Bros. leadership shifted again in 2022, when the company became Warner Bros. Discovery, with CEO David Zaslav at the helm.
With so many leadership changes, DC’s theatrical slate constantly suffered an identity crisis. Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC films lacked cohesion and consistency, thanks in part to new leaders and creatives making drastic changes. “I think ‘Black Adam’ was one of those movies that got caught in that web of new leadership,” Johnson told Hart. In the lead-up to “Black Adam,” marketing would have you believe that the film would pave the way for a new DC Extended Universe. That, of course, did not happen.
In hindsight, “Black Adam” isn’t as much of a failure as many pundits chalked it up to be. It would have helped if the film was a box office juggernaut, but it’s difficult to know if DC would have continued on with the franchise. After all, Warner Bros. is set to reboot everything now. Regardless of what happened, Johnson is grateful that he got to bring “Black Adam” to the big screen. “Yes, we look at and respect the bottom line economically,” Johnson said about the film’s box office returns. Variety says the film needed to make $600 million at the box office to be considered a success. It failed to deliver by over $200 million.
For Johnson, however, it’s not all about money. He thinks that Black Adam’s future should have been based on the fan reception. “But also, when you think about … creating opportunity and creating things that are fresh and delivering for the audience, which is our number one boss. When that wasn’t looked at through that lens, it makes things a little more challenging for guys like [me],” Johnson continued. Critics may have been mixed on the flick but fans adored it, awarding it an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Wrapping up the “Black Adam” chat with Hart, Johnson doubled down on how the leadership changes impacted Black Adam’s future. “At the end of the day, you know what it is, it’s like new ownership coming in, buying an NFL team, and going, ‘Alright, not my head coach, not my quarter back. It doesn’t matter how many times you won the Super Bowl, doesn’t matter how many rings we got, I’m going with someone else,”” Johnson said.
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