Profiles in Villainy: Black Adam

Imbued with the power of Ancient Egyptian gods by the wizard Shazam.

The Evil Opposite Number of Captain Marvel.

Ecstatic that Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson has
been cast to play him in the SHAZAM! movie.

Black Adam © DC Comics

It's good to see that Hollywood can occasionally get it right now and then. 

Other than Christopher Reeve as Superman or Patrick Stewart
as Professor X, I can't recall a more perfectly cast role...can you?

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Comments

[James Meeley]

"Other than Christopher Reeve as Superman or Patrick Stewart as Professor X, I can't recall a more perfectly cast role...can you?"

Well, I'd say Chris Evans nailed the Human Torch in the FF movies and include him in that list, as well.

[Ivan Wolfe]

james -

yes. In fact (for me anyway), Chris Evan's was the only bright spot in the otherwise lousy FF movies. [Yes, Jessica Alba is easy on the eyes, but she was rather bland as Sue Storm].

The rock is a great casting choice. Now hopefully they don't screw up the rest of the casting.

[Richard]

Evans is someone I wouldn't have thought about casting myself beforehand but who turned out extraordinarily well. Another is J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. Absolutely perfect, both those guys.

[Reid Mason]

After the fan hatestorm that plagued SUPERMAN RETURNS simply because it wasn't [insert sefish fanboy/fangirl fantasy here] and the screaming awfulness of most other comic book movie franchises, I don't ever want to see another comic book movie again. Ever. Between the selfishness of the comic fandom and Hollywood's ineptitude, I've had it with the comic book movie genre. The sooner this blows over and dies, the better. I'm giving this and other future comic book movies a miss.

As for the Rock...nothing against the guy at all. The guy's a born comedian. But there's got to be something more suitable to his skills for him to do. Black Adam's too regal for such a down-to-earth guy.

[suedenim]

I was thinking Dwayne Johnson would actually be perfect for Captain Marvel, the big nice-guy hero. He really does have a lot of natural charisma and charm.

But I think he can do a fine job as Black Adam too, and in the end, he just looks the part to such an extent it'd be foolish to ignore. It'd be like hiring Patrick Stewart to play Magneto or something. He'd do a fine job, I'm sure, but it'd still be a misallocation of resources....

[Mark Engblom]

"Well, I'd say Chris Evans nailed the Human Torch in the FF movies and include him in that list, as well."

Very true...though visually he was a bit off, and I generally prefer the Torch to be a little more competent and less of a "Himbo".

[Mark Engblom]

"Another is J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson."

Ah, how could I forget Simmons? Yes, THAT was an amazing example of a character not only visually nailing the character, but completely nailing the personality as well. Thanks for the reminder!

While we're on supporting comic book characters (and abrasive newspaper editors), I have to say that Jackie Cooper as Perry White was some pretty amazing casting as well.

[Mark Engblom]

"After the fan hatestorm that plagued SUPERMAN RETURNS simply because it wasn't [insert sefish fanboy/fangirl fantasy here] and the screaming awfulness of most other comic book movie franchises, I don't ever want to see another comic book movie again. Ever."

I can certainly understand your frustration, Reid. Some people get so invested in characters and the way it "has to be", they simply can't enjoy the movies for what they are. I always appreciate a great casting choice, but if it's not absolutely perfect, I can still try to appreciate what they did get right. I still remember how some fans refused to see the first Spider-Man movie because Peter Parker was able to organically shoot webbing and didn't invent the mechanical web-shooters of the comics. There are convincing cases on either side of the "controversy", but at the end of the day, it wasn't going to derail my genuine enjoyment of the Spider-Man movie franchise.

"Black Adam's too regal for such a down-to-earth guy."

Well, considering the roles Johnson has taken lately, you may have a point...but I'm thinking he could reach back and conjure up some of the arrogance and swagger from his pro wrestling days or his early role of the Scorpion King. The guy's perfected the "Yul Brynner glower" you want to see in "arrogant pharoah" characters like Teth-Adam, and he's also got the physical presense to back it up.

[Mark Engblom]

" was thinking Dwayne Johnson would actually be perfect for Captain Marvel, the big nice-guy hero. He really does have a lot of natural charisma and charm."

I think it's that charisma and charm that can really make his interpretation of Black Adam sing, since the character himself is a complex character not easily classified into the "good" or "evil" camp (despite my tongue-in-cheek description of the character in my cartoon). Portraying Adam as a benevolent protector who went tragically wrong would be a great way to go, and I think Johnson would be able to pull that off quite well.