Internet Erupts After The Rock Leaks First Pages Of Black Adam Script
Were there any true constants in today's entertainment industry, the chief among them would probably be this: What the Rock says, goes. Dwayne Johnson's on-camera talents and unshakeable work ethic have turned him into one of the biggest A-listers in the world — in every sense of the word. Even though Hollywood's biggest name has a few forgotten failures in his résumé, the fact that Johnson is able to say that he's the wealthiest star in the entire Fast and the Furious franchise despite not being an original member of the squad more than makes up for the occasional turkey.
Thanks to Johnson's famously impressive physique and his borderline superhuman achievements in the movie business, fans have been clamoring to see him kick things up a notch and play an actual superhero ... or, as the case may be, supervillain. Lately, Johnson has been getting the most ripped he's ever been in order to play Black Adam, the dangerous predecessor-turned-nemesis of the superhero Shazam, played in the DC Extended universe by Zachary Levi. And he's not just showing up in in a few scenes in someone else's feature. Oh no, Johnson's Black Adam is getting his very own movie.
The Black Adam solo film has been in development for a good while now, so it's been easy to let it slip from your mind and assume that regardless of Johnson's recent workout regime, the movie's chugging along at whatever pace Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment can manage. It looks like that pace is rapidly quickening, as the Rock just revealed something big: He "leaked" the first pages of the Black Adam script, sending the internet into a collective tizzy.
The Rock revealed that the Black Adam script opens with a Johnny Cash quote
In a three-minute video clip on Instagram, Johnson showed his 225 million-plus followers his copy of the the Black Adam script, written by Adam Sztykiel with fresh revisions courtesy of Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (of The Mauritanian fame). "We are approximately three weeks away from shooting Black Adam, and I can't believe we are at the finish line with this thing, and what a journey it has been," Johnson said in the clip, referencing the fact that Black Adam was supposed to debut in theaters in December of this year before it was pulled off the schedule indefinitely. "Actually, I can believe it considering how hard we've worked over the years on this. So it feels good to be on the verge of bringing Black Adam to life after all this time."
Johnson continued, explaining that he's been "fine-tuning" the script over the last few months — placing bright yellow stickers on pages where he wanted to leave notes — as part of his intensive, tequila-fueled "script study." To celebrate the impending start of filming, Johnson let his audience in on this particular night of script study, lifting the veil of by showing off the first page. It reads, "Well, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day. And tell the world that everything's okay. But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back. Till things are brighter... I'm the Man In Black." Fans of Country legend Johnny Cash recognize this as a slightly modified quote from his signature song, "Man in Black," and Johnson stated that it's instrumental to Black Adam's essence.
"I've memorized this. And I've known [...] these words for years and years and years and years and years now," the actor said. "But it gives you guys an example of who Black Adam is, and who Black Adam is to the world of the DC universe. But also, I think, who Black Adam is to the world of superhero universes period – and that is the DC Universe, but that also includes the Marvel superhero universe, too."
Realizing that remark might have broken the internet even further, Johnson clarified, "Now, look. I'm not saying there's gonna be a mash-up. But what I am saying is it doesn't matter to me, and it doesn't matter to Black Adam. You put 'em all on notice — whether they're part of the DC universe or the Marvel universe, they're all on notice now."
The news, understandably, got fans very, very excited — so excited, in fact, that a good portion of the post's comments are simply various combinations of thumbs-up, fire, and heart emojis, as well as heartfelt shows of support. "Hyped," user @Telvinkipapa commented. "Always our Rock!!" @Bittyspage enthused. "Johnny Cash baby," an appreciative @Ucej4y said of the Cash quote.
All in all, it certainly seems that fans are extremely enthusiastic to finally see Johnson as Black Adam. And since the actor also revealed that he'll start shooting the movie about three weeks — sometime in April — it looks like the day Black Adam finally drops is inching closer and closer. Keep an eye out for the Man in Black, folks.