Black Adam lead star Dwayne Johnson shared a new video of his surprise participation in a test screening for the highly-anticipated hero movie. Besides watching the movie in secret by the audience's side, Johnson interacted with the lucky guests of the test screening, discussing what they thought about Teth-Adam's debut in the DC Extended Universe.

Black Adam will tell the origin story of Teth-Adam, a man born into slavery in Ancient Egypt who’s granted the powers of the wizard Shazam. However, instead of using these powers for good, Teth-Adam becomes a ruthless antihero determined to destroy anyone who stands in the path of what he calls justice. Fans are extremely excited to see Black Adam get a live-action version in the DCEU, and with Johnson using all his charisma to bring Teth-Adam to life, expectations are high for the movie. The hype surrounding Black Adam is already enough for it to open big at the international box office. Even so, test screening must be done to measure the audience’s reaction and help Warner Bros. Discovery handle marketing and last-minute adjustments.

Since Johnson is very committed to the project, the star snuck into a test screening to learn first-hand what the public thought about his superhero debut. In the video posted by Johnson on Instagram, the star surprises the audience at the end of the screening by asking what they really thought about the movie. The people present in the test screening unanimously love Black Adam, praising Johnson’s interpretation of the character, the explosive ending, and how the movie keeps you guessing without ever revealing where it’s really going. That’s great news indeed, as the current reorganizing of the DCEU shook the public’s truth in the franchise, and fans really need a win to keep engaged with DC productions.

Besides explaining how the antihero got his powers, Black Adam will also have Teth-Adam joining -- and then fighting -- the Justice Society of America, a superhero team that precedes the Justice League. The movie version of the team includes Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Aldis Hodge as Hawkman. Black Adam also counts with Viola Davis, reprising her role as the Amanda Waller, the coordinator of Task Force X, also known as the Suicide Squad.

Black Adam is currently set to be released in theaters on October 21. Besides revealing the reactions to the test screening, Johnson also teased a new trailer “is going down this week.” Keep an eye out on Collider to catch the new trailer as soon as it’s released.

Check out Johnson’s original video below:

In 2021, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder's Justice League, a director's cut of 2017's Justice League. In 2022, the studio seems to regret ever doing such a thing.

In a recent report from Variety on DC's lengthy struggle to find its own version of Marvel's Kevin Feige, the magazine revealed that studio executives internally regret releasing Zack Snyder's Justice League. According to Variety, Warner Bros. executives feel that releasing Zack Snyder's Justice League (referred to as "the

Snyder cut" by fans) only emboldened fans to oppose Warner Bros. leadership at every turn.

The movement to "release the Snyder cut" came shortly after the theatrical release of the original Justice League. Zack Snyder, who had previously directed DC projects like Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, was originally attached to direct the film, but following a family tragedy, he was replaced by The Avengers director Joss Whedon. The theatrical cut of Justice League was a major critical failure, and it performed poorly at the box office. Fans of Snyder wishing to see his vision for the film began the online campaign to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut. Recent reports suggest that the movement to see Snyder's Justice League may have been bolstered by a now-dead advertising firm.

A few years later, in 2021, Warner Bros. released Zack Snyder's Justice League, an alternate cut of the film that runs four hours and two minutes. This cut was overseen entirely by Snyder, without input from Whedon. According to Variety, Warner Bros.' original intention was to appease fans with the "Snyder cut" they had demanded before getting back to its own DC plans. Instead, fans felt emboldened by the film's release, leading to yet another online campaign, this time demanding that Warner Bros. #RestoreTheSnyderverse by releasing direct follow-ups and spinoffs to Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Since the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League, Warner Bros. has struggled with what to do regarding the film. Snyder has not returned to work on any DC projects, instead taking his original movies Army of the Dead and Rebel Moon to Netflix. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. heads have begun to deny the existence of the Synder cut altogether -- when documentarian Leslie Iwerks asked to license clips from Zack Snyder's Justice League, she was told that the 2017 cut of the film was the only one Warner Bros. was willing to acknowledge.

Both the original Justice League and Zack Snyder's Justice League are currently streaming on HBO Max. Yet another alternate cut of the film, Zack Snyder's Justice League: Justice is Gray, is also available on the service.

Fans of the DCEU are getting their best look yet at Pierce Brosnan's Black Adam character in a brand-new poster highlighting Doctor Fate. The upcoming film follows its titular anti-hero, Teth-Adam/Black Adam, who finds himself freed from imprisonment almost 5,000 years after receiving powers from the Egyptian gods, now seeking to unleash his own form of equity on the world while attracting the attention of the Justice Society of America. The movie is set to be released in theaters on October 21, 2022, and in addition to Johnson and Brosnan, it stars Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, and Quintessa Swindell.

Fans of the comics are likely familiar with Brosnan's character, Kent Nelson, a powerful sorcerer who employs the magical Helmet of Fate, given to him by the ancient entity Nabu, as well as a founding member of the JSA. Throughout his publication history, Nelson/Doctor Fate has dealt with a number of impediments surrounding Nabu's eventual attempts to assume control of his body and has appeared as a mentor to several other popular heroes. When recently discussing his involvement with Black Adam, Brosnan touched on just how formidable Doctor Fate is, revealing he has the power to see the future, resurrect the dead, and teleport.

Now, Johnson, who has actively been promoting Black Adam across social media since production began over a year ago, has taken to Twitter to reveal Doctor Fate's first official character poster. Quoting Kent Nelson, the actor wrote, "Fate does not make mistakes," before acknowledging Brosnan in the role. Check out the brand-new poster spotlighting Doctor Fate below:

Brosnan has previously explained how he was able to provide input for the character's costume design, prominently displayed on the poster, noting that director Jaume Collet-Serra was great to work with and would send him different ideas. In another recent interview, Collet-Serra addressed why he decided to cast Brosnan as Doctor Fate, stating that he wanted someone to bring a sense of restraint to the character. He said that it would take a "special actor" to play Fate before commenting that Brosnan is "one of the coolest people in the world."

As Johnson continues to share updates surrounding Black Adam, he has also openly praised the work of Brosnan, adding to the excitement of fans. Those acquainted with the character and the source material are likely eager to see how the upcoming film manages to depict Doctor Fate, as well as the Justice Society of America. But as this poster indicates, DC has at least been able to successfully adapt Doctor Fate's comic appearance for the big screen. Audiences looking forward to finding out more about the character and Brosnan's portrayal can be sure to see Black Adam when it hits theaters this fall.

Warner Bros. is making several changes to their upcoming release schedule. It was announced today that Shazam: Fury of the Gods, which stars Zachary Levi as the titular hero will now hit theaters on March 17, 2023. This pushes the film back four months from its original holiday season release date of December 21, 2022. The film is the follow-up to 2019's Shazam and will be filling the release date of James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom which was moved from its March 17 release to a much later Christmas Day release on December 25, 2023.

While the three-month delay of the Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a sudden change, it isn't without a few positives that have come out of this move, one being that the superhero picture is no longer competing with Avatar: The Way of Water, which is set to premiere in theaters a week prior to the old release date on December 16. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods also not being so close to the anticipated Avatar follow-up, it also means that the DC film will have access to Imax screenings that would have been taken up by James Cameron's sequel. Deadline also notes the success that Matt Reeve's The Batman saw this year with a similar March release, opening at $134 million before finalizing at $369.3 million.

In addition to these release date changes, Warner Bros. Discovery has also announced that two films originally announced to be releasing on HBO Max will now be getting theatrical runs. These films are the New Line reboot of House Party directed by Calmatic and produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter as well as Lee Cronin-directed Evil Dead Rise. These films will now release in theaters on December 9, 2022, and April 21, 2023, respectively. These announcements come shortly after major cancellations with the likes of Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt as well as the widespread removal of animated series from HBO Max due to the merger of the streaming service and Discovery+.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to see many faces from the original film return with Asher Angel once again playing Billy Batson and Zachary Levi playing the titular Shazam. The cast members Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand, with the superhero versions of these characters being played by Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Ross Butler, and D. J. Cotrona. Grace Caroline Currey will also return to play her character from the first film as well as the superhero version of her, replacing Michelle Borth. Along with the returning cast, the film will also introduce new characters played by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is currently set to be released in theaters on March 17, 2023. You can check out the trailer for the upcoming DC film below:

The WildC.A.T.S. are celebrating their 30th anniversary. While their comeback may be with DC Comics, it's a huge win for Image Comics, too. Also celebrating the founding of the latter publisher -- it's a big day for Jim Lee's creations, showing how far comics have come since the 1990s. When they first appeared, the flashy art and similar costumes may have made the WildC.A.T.S. come off as ripoffs of another company's characters. Underneath the X-shape veneer, however, there was a much deeper backstory.

The WildC.A.T.S. have a mythos that ties into various Earth mythologies, essentially making them the superhero version of Ancient Aliens. This also puts it up against a certain property from Marvel Comics, though not the one that many might expect. Here's how the WildC.A.T.S. have the potential to be far more than just generic superheroes.

WildC.A.T.S. Is Similar to Eternals and Ancient Aliens

The central conflict in the WildC.A.T.S. titles focuses on the ongoing battles between two alien species -- the Kherubim and the Daemonites. The former are humanoid in appearance, being almost indistinguishable from humans aside from their many great powers. Daemonites, on the other hand, have beastly forms resembling H.R. Giger's Xenomorph. This makes sense, given their tendency to possess the bodies of other creatures. Combined with their name, this possession makes them essentially alien demons.

These aliens seemed to inspire tales of angels and demons when they came to Earth, as well as other mythologies. For instance, Zealot and the Coda sisterhood clearly influenced stories of the Amazons and other concepts from Greek mythology. For instance, there was a member of the Coda known as Artemis, suggesting that the Greek goddess was named after her. With their names being twisted and turned into religious concepts, the WildC.A.T.S.'s characters are very similar to Marvel's Eternals. These beings are god-like creatures whose exploits in the past inspired the tales that early civilizations would believe and worship.

These two comic book lines are both examples of the "ancient astronauts" theory. This idea suggests that Earth was visited in the past by far more advanced alien creatures, with these creatures' actions being interpreted as the work of gods. Such a theory is most well-known for being the premise of the documentary series Ancient Aliens on the History Channel. Given the prominence of supposed gods in Marvel and DC, it's a worthwhile narrative to follow. At the same time, it could also lead to some big issues down the line.

WildC.A.T.S.'s Take on Mythology Is Incompatible With DC Comics

Much like with the Eternals, the idea that the WildC.A.T.S.'s misunderstood mythology is the inspiration for Greco-Roman and other myths is somewhat incompatible with a shared superhero universe. The idea that aliens walk among humanity means absolutely nothing in a world where Superman exists. Likewise, how could the history of Zealot and the Coda work in a world with Wonder Woman and the actual Amazons. The latter is particularly egregious given how DC usually handles mythology.

Though Wonder Woman's mythos only became particularly loyal to the true Greek myths after the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths reboot, DC has generally had a more "classical" and traditional take on how mythology and the gods are handled. Marvel, being the more grounded and relatable universe, has gone so far as to make the gods more like "interdimensional aliens" than gods. That fits more with how WildC.A.T.S. handles the subject, with Jim Lee's Wildstorm world generally eschewing magic and fantasy entirely. This only reinforces that the WildC.A.T.S. should have their own universe, one where the world's oldest religious beings are inspired by aliens.

As much as the villains Batman faces on a daily basis have troubled Gotham, they may be putting the entire DC Universe in danger. One risk-taking businessman showed that the Dark Knight's villains are prepared to seek revenge no matter where in the world they have to go.

Since he returned to his city to keep his home safe, Batman has consistently been hounded by villains who wish to do Gotham harm. Whether they desire control or destruction or simply wish to cause chaos, Batman and his allies have been locked in a never-ending battle with their various enemies. Batman's rogues gallery is made up of some of the most ruthless and effective villains in the DCU and many of them have shown the ability to keep Gotham's greatest protector on his toes multiple times. Thankfully, no matter the threat they present, Batman is able to keep their damage contained more often than not.

However, the Joker proved he was willing to take his criminal machinations out of the city when he demanded satisfaction over a small slight. In Harley Quinn #1 by Karl Kesel and Terry Dodson, Jack Happi, owner of Happyland theme park hires actors to portray knockoff versions of Batman’s many villains to put on shows in the new Gotham-themed area of the park. The news of Happyland's addition to the park makes Joker positively livid, especially considering he isn't getting properly compensated for his likeness being used. He decides to take revenge and has his henchmen and Harley Quinn take point on developing an appropriate response. Harley fashions a roller coaster to murder Jack Happi and his assistant, complete with axes and machine guns that nearly kills the two.

Now Happyland certainly wouldn’t be the first attempt to capitalize on Bruce Wayne’s enemies. In fact, Gotham has a Batman-themed restaurant called Batburger that has an entire menu inspired by the hero and his many villains. But Joker showed a particular irritation by having his image used by a non-resident of Gotham, especially with money being involved. This one incident may show that the morbid interest in Gotham's criminal element could put anyone in danger no matter where they are.

The mystique of Gotham and its many colorful villains is just as entertaining to people in the DC Universe as it is to real-life fans. In-universe, there are movies, plays and other entertainment avenues based on the exciting adventures of Batman and his villains. But those portrayals aren't always accurate, or flattering as far as baddies like Joker are concerned. They may be a little more sensitive to having their image used for profit and, as the Clown Prince of Crime proved, take revenge for such an offense. It seems that no matter where in the DC Universe they're being ripped off, Batman's villains are ready to take action over any insults to their honor.

As superhero comics date back nearly a century, it is not surprising that there have been a number of instances in which characters with similar premises have been created. This is particularly the case for Namor and Aquaman, Marvel and DC's Atlantean heroes. However, as each has progressed over the decades, they have grown to play different roles within their respective worlds. As Aquaman has already made his on-screen debut, and Namor's is coming later this year, it is time to explore the differences between both characters.

Namor made his debut in 1939 in Marvel Comics #1 (By Bill Everett), and Aquaman followed merely two years later in More Fun Comics #73 (By Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris) in 1941. The characters have gone through changes since their creations, becoming forces to be reckoned with.

Namor's origin begins with his father, Leonard Mckenzie, a sailor who embarked on a trip to Antarctica in 1920 in search of remnants from a ship that had crashed over a dozen years ago. The crew began blowing up ice floes, not knowing an Atlantean city lay beneath them, and that they were killing its people. The incident caught the attention of the Atlantean princess Fen, who would go investigate the ship. Here, she would meet Leonard and the two would begin an unlikely romance. This was short-lived, however, as the ship was attacked by the Atlanteans, and the lovers were separated. Namor would be born soon after and go on to become king, facing off against the original Human Torch, and battling alongside Captain America in World War II.

Meanwhile, in the DC Universe, Thomas Curry was a lighthouse keeper who was caught in a storm and rescued by Atlanna, the Queen of Atlantis. The two would fall in love with Atlanna eventually becoming pregnant. Upon hearing the news, she requested permission to be relieved of her royal duties and join her lover in the surface world, however, she was imprisoned. She was able to escape and gave birth to Arthur Curry, leaving her son with his father as she returned to Atlantis. Here she would give birth to Arthur's half-brother Orm, who shares many similarities with Namor, being a stringent ruler of Atlantis. Arthur would develop superhuman abilities, and eventually take the title of king from his brother.

Unlike Aquaman, who was a reluctant king, Namor grew up feeling as if the throne was his destiny. Also differentiating him from Aquaman is that Namor is solely interested in what is best for Atlantis unlike Arthur, who is caught between the two worlds, ruling in hopes that the two could live at peace. Namor has led many attacks against the surface for their transgressions against Atlantis, and even flooded Wakanda when they were harboring enemies of Atlantis. Unlike Aquaman, he blurs the lines between hero and villain, having teamed up with heroes such as the Avengers, X-Men, and villains like Doctor Doom and Thanos.

Furthermore, while both heroes wield tridents, Namor does not make use of his to the degree that Arthur does and has not discovered the full extent of its powers. Aquaman on the other hand uses his trident extensively, having used it to battle Darkseid, and even piercing Superman's skin with it. Aquaman has also had weapons attached to his body after the loss of his left hand, including a harpoon hand and a mystical hand made of water. Another major differentiating feature between the two is that Namor is a mutant, with his genetic mutation being wings on his ankles that give him the ability to fly

As a whole, despite the premises of the two characters being similar, Namor and Aquaman have a wide number of things that differentiate them. Throughout their histories the two characters have gone through many shifts in personality, oftentimes being depicted as similar in nature, though over the years each has come to develop a distinct persona. With Namor making his MCU debut in the coming months, it will be interesting to see which facets of the character make their way onto the big screen.

Stargirl actor Luke Wilson talks about how he and his brother Owen Wilson, who stars in Marvel's Loki, compare their respective DC and Marvel universe experiences. Whether it was on their bucket lists or not, the two youngest Wilson brothers have both gotten into their own respective superhero adventures over the last few years. Luke, who is best known for films like Legally Blonde and Blue Streak, crossed into the DC Universe when he was cast as Pat Dugan, a.k.a. Stripesy, on The CW drama Stargirl. In the DC series, Luke's Pat is Courtney Whitmore's stepfather, who guides her through the Justice Society of America's legacy after she discovers the Golden Age heroes and Starman's Cosmic Staff.

While Luke has been occupied with his DC gig on Stargirl, it didn't take long for his big brother Owen to also land a part on a superhero series, but for Marvel. Since 2020, the second Wilson brother has been part of the MCU on Disney+'s Loki, which stars Tom Hiddleston as the fan-favorite God of Mischief. On Loki, Wilson portrays Mobius M. Mobius, a loyal agent of the Time Variance Authority. By the end of season 1, Mobius learned the truth behind the TVA, with his arc set to continue in Loki season 2, which is premiering in mid-2023.

Even though the DC and Marvel universes have not crossed over for obvious reasons, it hasn't gone unnoticed that both Wilson brothers are currently part of both comic book properties. During a recent visit to Good Morning America to promote the new Netflix film Look Both Ways, Luke was asked if there was any sibling rivalry with Owen over Stargirl and Loki. Luke said it was the opposite as he and Owen have been able to share their various experiences, explaining the following:

While Stargirl will enter season 3 later this year, Loki season 2 has been filming since June, hence the wait until 2023. Even though they don't comment on it often, this isn't the first time a Wilson brother has chatted about the funny convenience of both of them landing a superhero show. In an interview from 2021, Luke chatted about how he barely understood the plot points of Loki season 1, which focused heavily on the concepts of Variants and time travel. The series is now considered to be part of the MCU's Multiverse Saga.

Even if the two brothers may never share the screen together in a Stargirl and Loki crossover, it's still funny to hear how the actors have their own unique experiences on the shows. While Loki deals with alternate realities and timelines, Stargirl tackles villains like the Injustice Society, which was followed by the demonic Eclipso. Time will tell which Wilson will finish their comic book gig first, as there is no word yet if there will be a Loki season 3 or a Stargirl season 4 after the Arrowverse cancellations this year due to The CW now being partially owned by Nexstar.

When it comes to superhero teams, the Flash has a reputation for being the group's jokester. This was especially the case when Wally West joined the League as a younger and more upbeat version of the character. This is no different with Bart Allen, A.K.A. Impulse, in Young Justice. Arguably, Bart has had the worst treatment in DC Comics, never receiving the respect he deserves.

So far, the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event has sent dozens of heroes into alternate, 'perfect' realities. Included in those numbers are Superboy, Robin and Impulse, who get sent to a nostalgic, '90s-themed world, reminiscent of their days together as Young Justice. In this reality, they're never replaced as sidekicks, and even better, they're destined to become the next Superman, Batman and Flash. They never quite have enough time to investigate the "too good to be true'"nature of their situation, as they're tossed from one fight to the next. Of the trio, Impulse is the most suspicious of their new reality.

In Dark Crisis: Young Justice #3, by Meghan Fitzmartin, Laura Braga and Luis Guerrero, tensions rise between the Young Justice boys as they face off against old foes who have had a major impact on each of their lives. Interestingly enough, Bart is the only one to voice his concern, recognizing that the interruption is likely yet another trick this world is pulling on them. Too absorbed in the situation, Robin and Superboy dismiss him. Impulse’s inevitable refusal to finish things with Deathstroke results in a fight between him and Superboy. When Impulse attempts to explain his hypothesis that Cassie is controlling this reality, Superboy becomes defensive and even Robin is hesitant to make a judgement just yet, stating that they need “more data.” This only makes Impulse even more upset, his resentment boiling over as he finally snaps at his friends: “That’s it, isn’t it… You’ll listen to each other. You just won’t listen to me. You never have.”

Despite all they’ve been through as friends, the experiences of Young Justice in Dark Crisis continue to demonstrate just how little the group understands each other—only amplified by their separation. In issue #2, even Wally West cracks a joke about Bart always goofing around, not taking him seriously when his successor tries to ask about what’s going on. Just like all the Flashes, Bart Allen is a scientist at his core; he’s a believer in facts and evidence, recognizing patterns that many others don’t see—and not just because he has super speed. While Tim might be better known as the detective in Young Justice, this often means Bart is overlooked and simply typecast as the 'class clown'. Impulse has never been given the credit he deserves as a serious hero, despite having previously sacrificed himself (just as Superboy had), and even saved the universe.

Fortunately, Bart’s outburst makes things finally click for his friends, and they eventually learn to reject the reality they’ve been flung into. However, that doesn’t excuse the damage that’s been done. DC has finally admitted that Impulse deserves more recognition, not just as a Flash but a great hero in his own right.

DC Comics’ final installment of the DCeased storyline, titled DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #1, begins with changing Supergirl’s origin story to align with the zombie apocalypse. In doing so, the comic suggests that Supergirl, who became infected with the Anti-Life Equation, will fight Superman to determine the fate of the alternate DCeased universe.

The saga began with Darkseid corrupting Cyborg’s analog using the Anti-Life Equation, causing him to turn into a zombie and return to Earth. He rapidly infected the population through digital devices connected to the internet. Those infected try to literally claw the virus out of their heads before succumbing to a zombie-like state that makes them eager to transfer the virus through blood-to-blood contact. The Batcomputer estimated 600 million people across the globe were infected during the initial outbreak and believed the number would rise to the billions in the future. The world’s hope is lost when the Anti-Life virus infects Superman and turns him into one of the undead, making him fly into the sun so he can absorb it. Hope lives on, however, when the surviving heroes develop a cure and restore Superman to his usual self.

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #1 changes Supergirl’s origin story to imply that Zor-El’s discrimination toward Earthlings is what results in his daughter’s death and revival as a zombie. Her power and lack of care for life combined with that of the New Gods poses the biggest threat to the surviving heroes and life in the DCeased universe. Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine’s issue opens with Kara escaping Kandor during Brainiac's invasion. In her escape pod, she can hear Zor-El's narration explaining that she is sent to New Genesis, criticizing Jor-El's decision to send his son to "live with primitives" instead of "benevolent gods devoted to peace." These so-called benevolent New Gods of Genesis (including an unliving Darkseid) have become infected with the Anti-Life virus and attack Kara, turning her into one of the undead. The undead is more powerful than the heroes realize when they find Brainiac's ship damaged, and he is missing his entire lower torso.

The recording shows Zor-El’s misconceptions about Earth since he considers humans “primitives,” a derogatory term that suggests humans are unworthy of equal status due to their lack of knowledge and technological advances. His desire to have Kara live among friendly, peaceful gods implies that Zor-El thinks Earth is an undesirable place to live because its inhabitants are mean, violent mortals. The irony is that New Genesis has become uninhabitable due to the Anti-Life Equation, showing how the virus removes the New Gods' morality, so they do not hold back while subduing and killing a Kryptonian like Supergirl. Their combined strength and lack of morals are emphasized when the Supermen find Brainiac dying, and his ship damaged, suggesting his collection of intergalactic knowledge and power from conquering worlds was insufficient at stopping ruthless, super-powered zombies.

The first installment leaves fans wondering how the Earth heroes will react to Brainiac’s attack and what is coming for them. Supergirl’s powers and immorality as a zombie will undoubtedly challenge Superman and his unwavering morality in DCeased: War of the Undead Gods. It appears that DC Comics is setting up this showdown to determine how the DCeased universe will survive, if at all.

Since filmmaker Zack Snyder departed Justice League and the DCEU and controversy swept DC Films, Warner Bros.' superhero film franchise has been left without a head guiding the shared universe, resulting in a series of standalone films with no common direction. The company is reportedly looking to fix that by appointing someone to act as the "Kevin Feige" of the DCEU.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav suggested on an earnings call that the company was eyeing Arrowverse head Greg Berlanti to oversee the DCEU and related properties. However, it should be noted Berlanti has not yet been approached for the role and he has not expressed any interest in taking it.

Zaslav directly compared the role to that of Marvel Studios president and chief creative officer Kevin Feige, who has spent over a decade shaping the hugely successful Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reports also suggest the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO did not acknowledge DC Film's Walter Hamada, who has served as DC Films president since 2018.

Berlanti has been attached to the Arroverse since 2012, when he created, wrote and produced Arrow alongside Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim. The show spawned the long-running Flash spinoff and ultimately led to the ensemble series Legends of Tomorrow, as well as Supergirl, Batwoman, Black Lightning and more. While the Arrowverse lives on with Superman & Lois and The Flash, virtually all others have been cancelled. Even The Flash will conclude with its upcoming ninth season.

The State of the DCEU

Since the critical and financial failure of 2017's Justice League, the DCEU has undergone significant changes, with executives still debating how best to proceed with it. Despite the release of several hits since then, including Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Shazam!, there continues to be uncertainty surrounding the core of the original ensemble, which featured Henry Cavill as Superman and Ben Affleck as Batman.

While Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam may be the star of DC Comics’ next big live-action movie, he’s far from the only big-name character taking center stage. Joining him will be the Justice Society of America, which includes members such as Dr. Fate, Cyclone, Atom-Smasher, and their leader, Hawkman.

Most of these new characters have relatively straightforward backstories to establish for the audiences. However, the same cannot be said for Aldis Hodge’s flying, mace-wielding hero—he’s complicated.

In the comics, the character begins with Prince Khufu of Ancient Egypt, someone who ends up being killed by their rival, Hath-Set. Eventually, in 1940, the character ends up being reincarnated in the body of an American archeologist, Carter Hall. That's only one version, however, as another sees him as Katar Hol, a native from the planet Thanagar, who happens to be a police officer.

Even that brief description likely led some to scratch their heads. So how will a movie with a limited runtime smooth out, and fix, those messy wrinkles?

Fixing Hawkman's Origin

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Black Adam director Jaume Collet-Serra talked about Aldis Hodge's character of Hawkman and how the movie dealt with the character's confusing talent of reincarnation over the course of thousands of years—and how the movie aims to fix that with this first film.

The director noted how “it would be too confusing” to try and establish any known connection between Hawkman and Black Adam, seeing as both would have likely interacted roughly “5,000 years ago:”

Director James Gunn quickly made a name for himself in the comic book movie business after taking the lead on two Guardians of the Galaxy blockbusters for Marvel Studios. Unfortunately, after a series of divisive tweets resurfaced from years ago, Gunn was fired from the third installment of the trilogy, leading him to take on several projects at Warner Bros. and DC.

That relationship has since been rekindled and the director has already wrapped filming on The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and Vol. 3, but that didn't put an end to his work at DC. Gunn has already directed the outrageous The Suicide Squad and HBO Max's Peacemaker spin-off, which has since been renewed for Season 2.

The comic book filmmaker has been reported to have more DC projects in the works on top of that, including an HBO Max series for Viola Davis' Amanda Waller. Gunn has also confirmed he does have another DC big-screen movie in the works that may have nothing to do with The Suicide Squad.

But with Warner Bros. Discovery's new management currently going on a cancellation spree, many are concerned about whether James Gunn's outings will survive the onslaught. Fortunately, the director has offered a promising update on that front.

James Gunn Offers Update on DC Projects

The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker director James Gunn recently reassured fans on Twitter about the future of his DC projects amid many recent cancellations. 

With regard to the future of Peacemaker, Gunn promised that John Cena's anti-hero will "still be making lots of peace in Season 2" and fans have "no need to be worried:"

What is James Gunn's DC Future?

Following Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn will complete his current body of work at Marvel Studios, although there may still be some opportunity for him to continue on down the line. This ought to open up the director's schedule to devote more time to his upcoming DC projects including Peacemaker Season 2, the Amanda Waller series, and an unknown movie.

While Gunn has already explained he doesn't want to top job at DC Films, he may well take on a bigger role at the company going forward. Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav recently confirmed his intentions to build a team to map out the next ten years of the DC universe, and Gunn would be a no-brainer addition.

The director appears placed to continue building out his own corner of the DC universe filled with lesser-known and morally questionable characters. Gunn has long shown that he thrives when he can freely build out his own worlds and characters, so that will undoubtedly be a key part of whatever the future holds for him.

Peacemaker Season 2 is expected to begin filming in 2023.

The chances of Henry Cavill returning as Superman look significantly higher with Ben Affleck’s latest return as Batman. The open-ended status of Ben Affleck's Batman, Henry Cavill's Superman, and the general uncertainty over larger DCEU has been an ongoing problem for Warner Bros, stemming directly from the panicked revamping of Suicide Squad and later Justice League. The DCEU and its hero roster have remained in limbo ever since, with only Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa’s Aquaman a sure thing.

When it comes to Henry Cavill’s future as Superman, there appeared to be some resolution in sight, with rumors that he would appear at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con to announce his return as the Man of Steel. While that did not ultimately happen, Dwayne Johnson seemingly pressured WB for Cavill's return with comments he offered at the convention. Just a week later, Ben Affleck might have added even more pressure with the surprising announcement of his appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Affleck’s departure from Batman due to the negative experience of Justice League’s reshoots turning the movie into an infamous Frankenstein of a movie is well-known as part of the film's behind-the-scenes issues. This made his return for additional filming for the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League and later joining the cast of The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom a very surprising turn of events. In turn, that also makes Henry Cavill's Superman future very relevant to the discussion.

Ben Affleck's Is Returning As Batman, So When Will Henry Cavill As Superman?!

As the response to mere rumors of his SDCC appearance showed, and the palpable disappointment when they did not pan out, Henry Cavill returning as Superman is a must. Ben Affleck appearing in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom does nothing but add to that being the wisest course of action. It also suggests a cameo, or at least a tease of some kind, in Black Adam might well be feasible for Cavill's Superman.

Considering how certain it looked that his Batman days were over before 2020, Affleck’s return in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has even raised considerable questions about whether he might continue further. Likewise, Cavill has clearly grown more beloved in the role, with Dwayne Johnson perpetually teasing Black Adam and Superman having a head-to-head battle. Cavill’s Superman being associated with Affleck’s Batman makes Cavill coming back both a realistic possibility, and the savviest decision for the Man of Steel.

The extent of Affleck’s role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom remains unknown, but it suggests considerable possibilities. The return of Henry Cavill as Superman to face Black Adam, another long-awaited Superman solo movie, or some other kind of appearance is among them. Time will tell, but with Ben Affleck’s Batman coming back one more time, Henry Cavill’s Superman should hopefully follow not long after him.

Shazam has had a tumultuous history over at DC Comics. Initially, a rival for Superman while published by Fawcett Comics, he was later incorporated into the DC Universe. Sadly, he's never quite achieved all that he could under DC's control, and it shows with the many divergent takes that they've had for him.

One of these was Shazam: The New Beginning by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, and Tom Mandrake. Introducing several radical changes for the World's Mightiest Mortal, would stay with the character. Unfortunately, the story itself wouldn't, as it was quickly supplanted by another post-Crisis on Infinite Earth's origin and ultimately forgotten.

What Changes Did Shazam: The New Beginning Bring to Captain Marvel?

Published in 1987, Shazam: The New Beginning was a book that came out after the miniseries Legends, which itself was the first appearance of Captain Marvel in the new, post-Crisis continuity. Much like with other major heroes, there were several big changes made to the character, namely in terms of his relationships. In this continuity, Billy Batson, while still an orphan like usual, lived with his uncle Dudley Batson. This was a new take on "Uncle Marvel," a bumbling buffoon named Dudley that befriended the Marvel Family in the old comics. Though he wasn't actually their uncle, his ultimately affable nature made him like family.

Also sharing a blood relation to Billy was none other than his arch foe, Dr. Sivana. Essentially standing in for Billy's evil uncle Ebenezer, the corrupt scientist Sivana sought to use Billy for financial gain more than anything. Black Adam was also in the story, though he, thankfully, wasn't added to Billy Batson's family tree. Perhaps the biggest change to things was the fact that Billy retained his personality whenever he transformed into Captain Marvel. Beforehand, Captain Marvel had an entirely different personality, but that was no longer the case.

Not only is the wizard Shazam himself shocked by this, but he also seems to remember the original Marvel Family from before the events of Crisis. This included both Captain Marvel Jr. and Billy Batson's sister Mary. Billy's mentally remaining a child as Captain Marvel is now a hallmark of the character, likely due to it being the ultimate fruition of the wish fulfillment concept behind him. Sadly for the creative team, that's about the only thing that would stay in continuity.

Jerry Ordway's The Power of Shazam Completely Erased The New Beginning

Despite the popularity of Shazam: The New Beginning, the series never had a follow-up or ongoing series. Seven years later, Captain Marvel would finally get another chance for the spotlight, but not quite in a way that developed what had come before. Jerry Ordway rebooted his continuity again in The Power of Shazam, with this miniseries leading to an ongoing monthly title of the same name. It did away with The New Beginning, with the only change that it kept being that Billy mentally stayed the same whenever he transformed. Dr. Sivana's being a corrupt business could arguably be based on his scheming as Billy's uncle in the previous take, but it was more likely meant to reflect the similar changes made to Lex Luthor by John Byrne's Superman reboot.

That reboot of the Man of Steel eventually led to Superman's popular "triangle era," with one of the creators of this period being Jerry Ordway. It's possible that his popularity on those titles allowed him to take on Captain Marvel, especially since DC had done nothing major with the character in nearly a decade by that point. On top of that, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! made further changes to the timeline, so the Big Red Cheese was due for another origin story.

Five years ago, Shazam: The New Beginning was rereleased for the book's 30th anniversary, and this is about the most that DC has acknowledged the story. Despite how much it's been forgotten, it had an inarguable impact on the Shazam mythos. Perhaps the best representation of this is seen in the DC Extended Universe, with the Billy Batson of the Shazam! movies clearly related to what Roy Thomas once did with the character.

Since Superman took to the skies in Man of Steel, the DC Expanded Universe has experienced a topsy turvy fluctuation in power levels. On the one hand, Superman could still be considered the most powerful being in the universe, but in a world with Darkseid, even that could be up for debate. But now, things have changed even more with the introduction of Black Adam. However, with Superman seemingly AWOL, the only hero who could stand a chance against him would be Shazam. That said, the Wizard's champion may be more than underqualified to take on such a foe.

In the San Diego Comic-Con trailer for Black Adam, the titular anti-hero goes toe to toe with each member of the Justice Society of America. While their efforts to hold him back were valiant, Adam seemingly dispatched all of them with little to no effort on his part. While most of these characters wouldn't have stood a chance against him in the comics either, the real feat of strength came when he was able to hold off the powerful Doctor Fate. With that logic, Billy Batson may have a real dilemma when it's time for him to face off against the powerful being.

DC Comics writer Tom King revealed that he believes the Riddler is the most frightening Batman villain of all time because he's actually smarter than the Dark Knight. During his San Diego Comic-Con panel, the writer for the upcoming Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler #1 one-shot by DC Comics shared why he thinks the riddle-loving rogue makes for the most terrifying and challenging villain for Batman.

The Riddler is one of Batman's oldest villains, first appearing in Detective Comics #140 by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, becoming one of the most notable and iconic characters in the Dark Knight's rogue gallery. Riddler is known for his obsession and deployment of elaborate puzzles, riddles, and traps that he sets out for Batman as he tries to outsmart him with each question and game he creates - often with horrifying consequences if they're not solved. Riddler has appeared regularly in comics, numerous animated series, and most recently, in live-action in The Batman, where the villain was brought to life by Paul Dano. Now, Tom King is sharing his take that the Riddler is so terrifying because he's smarter than Batman.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Batman writer Tom King shared the stage with fellow DC Comics writer Tom Taylor as the pair talked about their upcoming projects coming soon to the publisher. King discussed his upcoming one-shot, Batman: One Bad Day - The Riddler, which he is working on alongside his longtime collaborator Mitch Gerads. The comic will dive into the mind of the Riddler as he murders a man and has Batman painstakingly pick up clues to figure out the villain's true motivation. During the panel, King said that he believes the Riddler is the "most frightening" Batman villain because "he's smarter than Batman."

"The Riddler is the most frightening Batman villain of all time because he's smarter than Batman." - Tom King https://t.co/xH6MGMkUaN

— Popverse (@PopverseSays) July 21, 2022

Brand-new images from Dwayne Johnson's first foray into the superhero genre, DC's Black Adam, have surfaced online thanks to Den of Geek. The exciting new look at the anti-hero and the JSA superhero team arrives a few days ahead of the film's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

The officially released stills feature Johnson as Black Adam interacting with Pierce Brosnan's Dr. Fate, a very powerful and veteran member of the Justice Society of America. Another image includes Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone and Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, the youngest members of the superhero team, contemplating something important at their headquarters. Of course, Teth Adam receives his own image, offering avid fans a very close look at the (mostly) practical superhero suit Johnson dons in the film.

Black Adam will mark the big-screen debut for the Justice Society of America, a superhero team that consists of Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Brosnan as Dr. Fate, Swindell as Cyclone, and Centineo as Atom Smasher. The introduction of this DC superhero team to a worldwide audience is meant to kick off a new era of the DCEU according to the film's producer Hiram Garcia, potentially setting up spinoffs for the JSA crew after Black Adam hits theaters. The anti-hero will be squaring off against the superhero team, but the inclusion of Sabbac could indicate a third party will be complicating the highly-anticipated battle.

The supporting cast includes Sarah Shahi set as freedom fighter Adrianna Tomaz, while it’s theorized that James Cusati-Moyer will play her brother, Amon. Behind the scenes, Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collet-Serra reunites with Johnson to helm the long-awaited superhero project. Now in post-production, actors are currently doing ADR work ahead of its late October release, with Hawkman actor Hodge revealing the film is nearly complete.

Although his name circulated in the DC universe in the 2000s, it was just seven years ago when Johnson confirmed he intended to play Black Adam on the big screen. A lot has changed in the DCEU since then, and while it's frustrating that it took so long, the arrival of Black Adam is nigh. The cast and crew of the highly-anticipated film will be attending San Diego Comic-Con, with speculation pointing towards another trailer arriving sooner rather than later.

Black Adam hits theaters on October 21, 2022. Check out the new official stills and the latest trailer for Black Adam down below:

Though the franchise is well-known for its issues, the DCEU still manages to beat its direct competitor, the MCU, in one important way. The two titans of the comic book world, DC and Marvel, have been engaged in a unique sort of rivalry for decades. One, DC, boasts - arguably - the most iconic heroes, while the other, Marvel, boasts the most successful movie franchise of all time. The nature of their rivalry stems simply from their shared place within the superhero genre and the many ways each has come to influence and define pop culture in the modern age.

Although the DCEU's battle with the MCU essentially dates back several decades, it's now being most fiercely fought in the medium of live-action cinema. Marvel's own shared cinematic universe has gone from strength to strength, delivering a number of the highest-grossing movies of all time and consistently dominating the box office for years. The DCEU has been decidedly less successful, facing a number of behind-the-scenes issues and struggling to compete with the popularity of the interconnected narratives of its rival.

Whereas the massive scope of the MCU is fast becoming a daunting prospect, the DCEU is much better at telling self-contained narratives. Almost every new entry into the MCU comes with at least some required watching, but the DCEU's movies and shows have so far been largely capable of standing alone. This much is even true of direct sequels and spin-offs within the franchise, and it's something that makes the DCEU better by comparison.

The DCEU's Standalone Stories Are Starting To Outshine The MCU

The success of the MCU's shared universe has been a factor in its box office domination. However, with the novelty wearing off, the connected narratives of the franchise have begun to hold the MCU back, whereas the DCEU has been carefully consistent in that regard. By growing at a sensible rate, the DCEU isn't as overstuffed as the MCU, and therefore doesn't require such a staggering investment of time in order to remain up to speed. However, even when judging its movies and films on their individual merits, the DCEU is now beginning to be seen more favorably.

Within the DCEU, even direct sequels don't necessarily require knowledge of preceding films: take the controversial Batman v Superman, for example, which recaps the most necessary plot points of Man of Steel from an alternate perspective. By delivering sequels that can also serve as independent stories or even entry points into the franchise, the DCEU feels much more accessible to wider audiences, especially those more in the market for casual viewing. The same rule applies to practically every DCEU property - though its stories are connected, this is achieved loosely enough to facilitate those less up to speed on the finer details of the franchise's story.

Though there are those who prefer the MCU's sprawling interwoven stories, the Marvel franchise is becoming bloated with content so reliant on preceding stories that it alienates more casual audiences. Taking Thor: Love and Thunder as an example, even for a relatively self-contained narrative, there are still several MCU movies to rewatch before Love and Thunder for it to completely make sense.  Such intensive rewatches - or any rewatches - aren't really necessary for the DCEU, and it's an approach that is only now starting to give the franchise an edge over its Marvel rival.