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[NotTheGuyYouKill]

In a recent interview with Total Film, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson confirms he's playing a DC superhero that will be announced shortly — a character that "has the power of Superman." Unless there's some major disinformation going on here, it sounds like the Rock is almost certainly Shazam.

In terms of DC heroes who are Superman's equal, there's pretty much only Shazam, who powers are magical instead of alien. And assuming that theis rumored Warner Bros. movie calendar is real — and because WB would need to start work on a Shazam movie for 2016 in the exceedingly near future — all signs point to the announcement that the former wrestler has been cast as the Superhero Formerly Known as Captain Marvel.

Given that Shazam is in fact the adult superhero alter-ego on the young boy Billy Batson, I wonder if Johnson can adequately convey the childish personality of Shazam, but I'm cautiously optimistic. The casting could definitely be way, way, way worse, after all. Question: If The Rock is Shazam, who are they going to get to play his archenemy Black Adam? Is there anyone on the planet who looks more like Black Adam than Dwayne Johnson?

http://io9.com/the-rock-has-pretty-...utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Ef8qx6uOI

 

[TEJ]

billy batson better not be an adult.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=790640&highlight=the+rock

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Derek Jeter as Billy

 

[Delta Assault]

It's really hard to picture him as Captain Marvel.

 

[BertramCooper]

It's obviously going to be Mr. Mxyzptlk.

 

[Tawney Bomb]

Maybe he's President Superman! Multiverse movie!!!

 

[Pinko Marx]

Solomon Grundy

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Can you smell what Etrigan is cooking?

It's that or Booster Gold.

 

[OverlordSteph]

 

[Snaku]

It's really hard to picture him as Captain Marvel.

Or as anyone. He's the fucking Rock. I don't watch the trailer for Hercules and think "Hercules movie," I think, "Rock movie."

 

[esai]

i think the rock can pull off the boyish personality just fine.

 

[BronsonLee]

I was going to say I was surprised DC could afford him, then I remember Bale and such.

That being said..it has to be a pretty massive role to justify him.

Or it's Booster Gold and I will fucking howl laughing at Rock being a butt

 

[Plywood]

I can see it.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Dude's likable enough that he can totally make the character work.

Spoiler

Still would've loved if he was Lex Luthor.

 

[Xamdou]

Hes going to be Bizzaro.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Shit, I've cracked the fucking code.

DC Superhero with the powers of Superman?

It's The Batman-Superman of Planet X!

 

[Pai Pai Master]

It's really hard to picture him as Captain Marvel.

I think he can make it work.

/dodges tomatoes

He'd make a fine Black Adam i think. Like he's perfect for it.

 

[Frustrated_Grunt]

I could definitely see a Black Adam Rock. Shazam I would have to see it to believe it.

 

[Maximus.]

The Rock as Shazam? Sure why not, just bring it on!

 

[ReiGun]

"Just say the word" kind of gives it away as being either Shazam or Adam. I'm going Shazam because, come on, it's the Rock. You don't cast the biggest action star on the planet and then not make him the star.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

I'm not sure why the article is automatically assuming Shazam...based on what Rock said it could just as easily be Black Adam and he's been rumored to be Black Adam forever so it seems more likely.

 

[fallagin]

Oh man, the rock as flash would be incredible.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I'm not sure why the article is automatically assuming Shazam...based on what Rock said it could just as easily be Black Adam and he's been rumored to be Black Adam forever so it seems more likely.

Supehero vs Supervillain, presumably?

Or is Black Adam a good guy in some incarnations?

 

[Frustrated_Grunt]

Then again, I could totally see The Rock play a child in an adult's body more than most.

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

Supehero vs Supervillain, presumably?

Or is Black Adam a good guy in some incarnations?

He's been an anti-hero sort in the past.

I was assuming that the word "superhero" was just a generic catch all in this case. I could be wrong though.

 

[Shaanyboi]

Oh man, the rock as flash would be incredible.

 

[- J - D -]

What? They done goofed. It better be this guy.

 

[CreeperBlocks]

Can you smell what Shazam is cooking?


I think The Rock can pull it off, But who would you cast as the kid?

 

[theWB27]

DC going for that big comic book look huh. Henry Cavill is massive, Ben Affleck buffed up pretty good and now Ro...er..Dwayne Johnson. Rumored Jason Mamoa as Aquaman.

Damn.

 

[Loxley]

Seeing as the guy is the biggest action star in the world right now, I doubt WB would want bring him in as a villain. If he's Shazam, it's much easier to potentially create solo or spin-off films if he's the hero. Besides, he's got the biggest "how cool is it that I'm a superhero" grin that's pretty much perfect for the character.

 

[ManDudeChild]

DC going for that big comic book look huh. Henry Cavill is massive, Ben Affleck buffed up pretty good and now Ro...er..Dwayne Johnson. Rumored Jason Mamoa as Aquaman.

Damn.

So ... you're saying Shazam (The Rock) should kick the shit out of the so-called Superman (Cavill)? That's what I'm hearing.

 

[ReiGun]

I think The Rock can pull it off, But who would you cast as the kid?

This is what I'm wondering too. Does anyone know of any pre to early teen actors who look like Dwayne and could match his energy well enough that you'd believe they were the same person?

Seeing as the guy is the biggest action star in the world right now, I doubt WB would want bring him in as a villain. If he's Shazam, it's much easier to potentially create solo or spin-off films if he's the hero. Besides, he's got the biggest "how cool is it that I'm a superhero" grin that's pretty much perfect for the character.

Not to mention if they intend to add Shazam to the JLA movie, having The Rock on board for that is just good business.

 

[Jack Scofield]

What? They done goofed. It better be this guy.

You know what. I think half of all comic book covers posted on GAF are of some character lounging on a throne or a chair.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Looking forward to seeing how they actually squeeze magic into this universe right from the get go. We've gone from a the grimdark Nolan to the relatively grounded Superman flick that tried to go more of a SF route for a lot of things, and now Shazam, Wonder Woman, Aquaman. Even though Nolanverse is separate, I think it's gonna be a tough sell.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Dude's likable enough that he can totally make the character work.

Spoiler

Still would've loved if he was Lex Luthor.

Yes to both points.

I know he wasn't black in the DCAU but I grew up thinking he was. Was one of my favorite characters.

 

[TEJ]

I think the real issue is, who is going to play billy?

 

[PhoncipleBone]

You know what. I think half of all comic book covers posted on GAF are of some character lounging on a throne or a chair.

But not all of them are surrounded by bodies.

 

[Puppet Shadow]

But will Kevin Sorbo do a cameo?

 

[theWB27]

So ... you're saying Shazam (The Rock) should kick the shit out of the so-called Superman (Cavill)? That's what I'm hearing.

It's gonna be Rock as the rival to Supes. Public opinion is still gonna be against him after the destruction in MoS. Batman will be a little neutral, but go against Supes because he steps on Batman's toes. Shazam is going to be the media darling because of his child like charm. Manipulated by Jesse Eiiiiiiisenberg to do something bad...causing Supes to show, this is how it's done along with Batman. Shazam breaks free of the manipulation to help against the greater threat.

Then you're going to get the shot. The shot that shows all three standing next to each other. The physique shot.

Yeah...

(Assuming the rest are gonna be lil cameos like the rumors suggest.)

BTW...who's a strong enough villain in DC that would be a fight for Supes, Shazam and Batman?

 

[Slayven]

I think the real issue is, who is going to play billy?

He has to be an asshole

 

[Discotheque]

He'll pull it off

Travis fimmel should have been aquaman tho. And anybody else for Wonder Woman

 

[LowerLevel]

Wait, The Rock has to convey a child in adult body while playing as Shazam (If this thought is true...). Then that means he's the "comic relief" and I am already starting to be slightly disappointed at the possibility...

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I think the real issue is, who is going to play billy?

My sources are telling me that it's between Kevin Sorbo and Peter Dinklage at this stage.

 

[ReiGun]

Looking forward to seeing how they actually squeeze magic into this universe right from the get go. We've gone from a the grimdark Nolan to the relatively grounded Superman flick that tried to go more of a SF route for a lot of things, and now Shazam, Wonder Woman, Aquaman. Even though Nolanverse is separate, I think it's gonna be a tough sell.

Introducing Shazam's "world" first in a solo before WW or AM is actually the smart play in this regard, I think. Magic in Shazam's story is very much something unnatural and strange in Billy Batson's otherwise normal and grounded life. That'll help it play a bit more than introducing it through Wonder Woman, where gods and mystical creatures and such are everywhere and even stranger than Shazam.

BTW...who's a strong enough villain in DC that would be a fight for Supes, Shazam and Batman?

 

[DominoKid]

always figured he'd be Black Adam but I'm sure he'll do a great Shazam too.

 

[Sir Garbageman]

Not super familiar with the DC line of comics but is Shazam that popular these days?

 

[LycanXIII]

He has to be an asshole

Got it.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

BTW...who's a strong enough villain in DC that would be a fight for Supes, Shazam and Batman?

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Got it.

This kid would transform into a Samoan dude?