Dwayne Johnson Pushing For DC Vs Marvel Movie?

Dwayne Johnson says he doesn't see Marvel as a competitor but instead wants to pave new roads to success.

By Charlene Badasie | Published

Marvel and DC have always been in a silent war for fan loyalty, critical acclaim, and box-office returns. So it was inevitable that Dwayne Johnson would be asked to weigh in on the Marvel vs. DC debate at the New York City premiere of Black Adam. When asked if his franchise would try to take a bite out of its counterpart he said the answer is “unequivocally no.” 

Speaking to the Associated Press, Dwayne Johnson explained that DC isn’t trying to get the better Marvel. Instead, he complimented the MCU saying that everything Kevin Feige has done has been incredible. He added that as Warner Bros builds out the DC universe, ushering in a new era of storytelling, competition is not something he’d like to lead with.

Dwayne Johnson also thanked Marvel Studios for being the economic driver of the movie business for close to two decades. The Jungle Cruise actor then explained how DC hopes it can grab its own apple, instead of taking a bite from Marvel’s and create something from there. But realistically, this might be easier said than done.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the gold standard of shared continuity, DC’s Extended Universe has been embroiled in various creative and strategic battles within Warner Bros Studios. As the comparisons between the superhero powerhouses rage on, the latter will be hoping that Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam will be a new dawn for the so far uneven narrative.

black adam dwayne johnson
Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam (2022)

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, from a script by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, Black Adam is the first-ever feature film to explore the story of the popular DC character. Dwayne Johnson has been attached to the role since 2014 and was originally set to appear in 2019’s Shazam! until producers decided to give the ancient Egyptian anti-hero his own movie.

The story follows Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) who, after almost 5000 years of imprisonment, is unleashed from the ancient city of Kahndaq. But his brute tactics and methods of justice attract the attention of the Justice Society of America who tries to stop his rampage. When a bigger threat puts the entire world at risk, the JSA teaches him how to be a hero while teaming up to stop a force more powerful than Adam himself.

Starring alongside Dwayne Johnson as Teth-Adam / Black Adam is Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, and Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate. Sarah Shahi stars as Adrianna Tomaz, who becomes a superhero when she finds an amulet belonging to the Goddess Isis, as well as Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. It also features Marwan Kenzari as Ishmael Gregor / Sabbac, the demonically possessed militant leader of the criminal organization Intergang.

The Dwayne Johnson starrer had its world premiere in Mexico City on October 3rd and is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 21st. Black Adam will be released in several countries a day earlier than its domestic release. As promised by its trailers, the film delivers incredible action with some critics calling it “epic on every level.”