This article was originally published on Kueez
Black Adam, the very first movie focused on the DC Comics anti-hero, is fast-paced and powerful thanks to its exhilarating action, stunning visual effects, and the limitless charisma of Dwayne Johnson, who is accompanied by a cast of immensely talented co-actors. It’s a must-watch movie for everyone. And even if you've seen this nonstop fun flick, there are still some intricacies and Easter eggs you might have missed. But worry not, for we have compiled an intriguing list of the most surprising Easter eggs, hidden details, and interesting behind-the-scenes facts you may have missed in Black Adam.
The Justice League Reference
The first of the significant Easter eggs included in Black Adam appears right at the film's beginning when Teth Adam suddenly awakes Amon Tomaz (a die-hard superhero fan) from his sleep. The anti-hero with limitless power begins to move things around in a room that is filled with Justice League merchandise. In addition, the DC anti-hero lands a powerful blow on the door, punching it so hard that he makes a hole in it with his fist.
Teth-Adam shatters the Superman Logo hanging on the door. This was the first time that the Man of Steel, who could eventually (and hopefully) become his greatest adversary, was mentioned.
The Game of Thrones Reference
One poster graphic of Black Adam sitting on Kahndaq’s throne was taken straight from the comics (from 52 #47). Even though it occurs in both the film and the comics after the decisive battle with Sabbac, the film's version of this scene plays out somewhat differently. Weirdly, Black Adam doesn't ascend to his throne but destroys it instead. However, he still considers himself the rightful king of Kahndaq. This reminds us of when Drogon melted the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones.
The persona of Black Adam in the film has become inextricably linked with the iconic image of him sitting atop a crumbling throne, so it will be fascinating to see how he develops in the DCEU.
Tribute To Hawkman’s Logo
In Black Adam, the hawk logo on Hawkman's chest is more elaborate than many comics fans are used to seeing. It is because there is a basic black shape of a hawk's head that serves as Hawkman's logo in the comics. He doesn't wear this symbol, although it's widely displayed in his Nth Metal plane. In the movie, we can see that Hawkman's cockpit and chair both feature the classic logo.
Although Aldis Hodge was fantastic in the role, his costume deviates from the comics; it is still enjoyable to see a tribute to his signature logo.
The Name of Black Adam’s Wife
In the movie, Teth Adam is presented with a new story arc, or more accurately, one that has been changed, in which he is shown to have been a slave instead of the ruler of Kahndaq. This alteration does have an effect on some of the decisions he makes during the movie. Odelya Halevi plays his wife, whose name, Shiruta, coincidentally happens to be the name of the capital city of Kahndaq. Despite the fact that Teth Adam never actually ruled over Kahndaq, she is honored with the naming of this city in the comics.
In all honesty, this little change isn't a big deal at all. After all, it doesn't take away from how magnificent the ancient Kahndaq architecture is.
The Original Atom Smasher Cameo
You can see Henry Winkler making a brief appearance as Al Pratt, aka Atom Smasher, using facetime to talk with his nephew, the new Atom Smasher (played by Noah Centineo). Since the Justice Society of America (JSA) has existed as a superhero squad since World War II, the first Atom Smasher would have to relinquish his rank and outfit, making him an exciting inclusion for all the DC fans out there.
The relationship between Atom Smasher and Black Adam is special. The anti-hero might even consider him a friend, given how few individuals he actually has allowed to be near him.
The Power of Six Demons
The Crown of Sabbac is a magical relic that, if worn, can give its possessor essentially limitless power, and it is this artifact that serves as the central focus of Black Adam's plot. The Council of Wizards rewards their Champion with magical abilities, and these same six demons from Hell provide similar assistance. Sabbac, like Shazam, gets his powers from a group of six demons whose names spell out his name.
Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis are the patron demons of Sabbac. When Sabbac's mortal host utters his name, a bolt of black lightning strikes him, and he is transformed into a huge, muscly demon.
Paying Homage to Clint Eastwood
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is one of the movies that arguably made Clint Eastwood a Hollywood icon. So when Teth-Adam sees Karim (Mohammed Amer) watching the movie, he rudely interrupts him. Black Adam, inspired by the gunslinger's battle he saw on screen, created an Inter-gang reenactment a few scenes later. Nonetheless, he can fire lightning bolts from his fingers much more quickly than any of the soldiers could fire bullets.
While promoting the film, Johnson told CinemaBlend that his idol, Clint Eastwood, had a significant influence on his portrayal of Black Adam.
Eternium
Black Adam's powers are rendered useless, and he is left defenseless when exposed to the substance known as Eternium. This is similar to the effect that kryptonite has on Superman. We learned about it early in the movie when King Anh-Kot forced the enslaved people to mine the element for him so that he could make the “Crown of Sabbac.” It is also used as an energy source for weapons of Intergang.
While Eternium is a relatively new addition to the DC comic book universe, its roots can be traced back to the Shazam books. Eternium is a piece of the Rock of Eternity, the otherworldly residence of the Wizard Shazam and the dungeon of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Nation Of Khandaq
This is perhaps one of the easier Easter eggs in Black Adam. Kahndaq, a nation ancient than both Rome and Babylon, is introduced in the movie's opening scenes. It's where Black Adam's misery began and what made him so hellbent on getting revenge. Once subject to the tyranny of the evil King Anh-Kot, the people of Kahndaq were freed when the Council of Wizards selected a warrior gifted with the divine power of gods.
Several key features of the capital city of Kahndaq, including the two statues of kneeling men, are faithful adaptations from the comics and can be seen all through the film and in the contemporary version of Kahndaq.
Paint It, Black By The Rolling Stones
Now here's an Easter egg that seems like it was made just for Black Adam's first fight. In the fight scene, Black Adam engages in combat with Intergang's soldiers while the Rolling Stones song "Paint It, Black" plays in the background as he emerges from the mountain where he had been entrapped. Whoever came up with the brilliant idea of choosing this song for the aptly named character deserves a pay raise.
The cherry on top is how the composer Lorne Balfe used it right before Adam attacked the forces and helicopters stationed outside the mountain.
Connection to the Suicide Squad
Atom Smasher faced justice for his crimes and was convicted and imprisoned. Not for long, though, since Amanda Waller asked for his assistance when assembling a new Suicide Squad to take on Adam. We have already seen Atom Smasher in other DC Universe projects besides Black Adam. The Flash season 2 premiere featured Adam Copeland's portrayal of the character as the antagonist, and he had a brief appearance in Justice League Unlimited.
Well, all we have to say is that Smasher is undoubtedly one of the film's most interesting Justice Society members.
The Council Of Eternity
It should come as no surprise that there is a council of wizards in the DC Universe given that magic plays a pivotal part in it; moreover, Black Adam's abilities stem from some sort of magical source. The council of Eternity is a collection of seven incredibly strong wizards and beings that have the ability to grant great power, also known as the power of Shazam, upon a champion.
In the Black Adam movie, the lead wizard, who goes by the name Shazam, returns from the previous film, Shazam! Djimon Hounsou portrayed the character once again, which added another layer of continuity to the DCEU. Unfortunately, the Council of Eternity made the mistake of bestowing the abilities of Shazam upon Teth-Adam, which they later came to regret.
Intergang Origins
In the world of DC Comics, the Intergang is a global criminal organization that adheres to the Religion of Crime, an old codex that Darkseid established to help him propagate evil across the world. Because the Intergang is loyal to Apokolips, its members are typically armed with alien technology that enables them to combat meta-humans and engage in criminal activity. In Black Adam, the Intergang also possesses some astounding technology; however, Eternium, a unique material that can only be discovered in Kahndaq, powers their advanced weaponry.
Because neither Apokolips nor Darkseid are mentioned in the film, it would appear that the origins of Intergang have been altered in some way.
The Alien Helmet of Doctor Fate
We can see Black Adam saying that the helmet worn by Doctor Fate is alien in nature, and he even suggests that, after donning the helmet, Kent Nelson turns "possessed." It was Nabu, a Lord of Order who came to earth thousands of years ago to battle the Lords of Chaos, who designed the helmet. Hence this is a case that makes a lot of sense. Both represent fundamental components of the cosmos and are endowed with limitless magical abilities.
Nabu's spirit takes physical form in Kent whenever he dons the helmet. Thus, Nabu can continue to exist whenever a host dies so long as he can transfer the helmet to a new body. So, one can hope to see a new Doctor Fate seeing patients.
It Runs In The Family
It was revealed that the primary nemesis of Black Adam was not the Justice Society of America or Black Adam himself, but rather Ishmael Gregor (Sabbac's warrior). Marwan Kenzari has previous experience in playing the role of a diabolical villain because he was Jafar in the Disney film Aladdin. Ishmael explains that he is also the only remaining descendent of King Ahk-Ton, who was an ancient enemy of Black Adam.
By casting Kenzari in the roles of both Ishmael and Ahk-Ton, they were able to emphasize the similarities between the two characters' families.
The Black Marvel Family
All of us are familiar with the Shazam Family and the story of how Billy Batson gave his foster siblings some of his incredible powers as the Champion. In the same way, Amon Tomaz and Adrianna were given their powers and became part of the Black Marvel Family. The two of them would play the parts of Osiris and Isis in the film. The characters of Adrianna and Amon play crucial parts in the film and help form a bond with Teth-Adam.
In DC's Black Adam, there is a hint that these individuals have a tremendous deal of power. Both Osiris and Isis could be parts of their future in the DC Extended Universe.
A Possible Bromance?
No one needs reminding that DC's Black Adam focuses almost exclusively on Teth-conflict Adam's with the Justice Society. Several times, Atom Smasher even successfully crushes Teth-Adam under his fist's enormous weight. Nonetheless, Smasher warms up to Teth-Adam by the end of the film, suggesting that they could work together once more. This entertaining exchange between two characters follows a logical trajectory for the newest member of the JSA, which is consistent with the comics.
Well, despite their hostility toward one another at the outset, Black Adam and Atom Smasher eventually grew to become very close. So who knows maybe we could be seeing them in the future.
Black Adam’s Son
Black Adam cleverly highlighted the Rock's non-DCEU endeavors, notably his biographical television series Young Rock. Uli Latukefu, who portrays the Rock in his 20s on the show, plays Black Adam’s son Hurut. Since Latukefu was introduced as a new cast member, it was assumed that he could play Osiris, the son of Black Adam. We can say that they have made the right casting decision by selecting Latukefu to play the champion form of Hurut.
The appearance of Latukefu was likely a one-time thing, but if Amon were to get superpowers as he did in the comics, he might make a comeback. Then, as he did for Hurut, Latukefu could perform in his superhuman form.
Nth Metal
Black Adam has no choice but to battle the Justice Society (which is led by Hawkman) until the identity of the true antagonist is revealed. In the movie, he is shown as a hero who becomes strong and wealthy because of an unknown element. Nth metal holds similar significance to Hawkman as vibranium to Black Panther. He says that the Javelin, which is the JSA's specialized jet, is constructed completely out of nth metal.
Notably, nth metal also has ties to Hawkman's past as a reborn Egyptian Prince, a tale that must be explored in his own DCEU film as soon as possible.
The Demise of Wizards
It is revealed in the film Shazam! (2019) that the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) has been searching for a suitable Champion for hundreds of years, ever since his powers were misused and the Council of Wizards came perilously close to being wiped out. Well, Black Adam details everything that took place in great detail. When the Wizards attempted to confine Teth-Adam because of his violent tendencies, the anti-hero killed all of the Wizards with the exception of Shazam.
Even if it's only for a brief appearance, it's great to have Djimon Hounsou back in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Task Force X Black Site
We get to see Black Adam teasing the destiny of Peacemaker and a possible Suicide Squad sequel from James Gunn. As a result of his depowering, Teth-Adam was transferred to the Task Force X Black Site. Jennifer Holland, who previously played Emilia Harcourt in The Suicide Squad and the TV series Peacemaker, is in charge of supervising Adam throughout his brief stay. There are plenty more confinement pods at Black Site, so we're eager to find out who was considered too high-risk for Belle Reve and sent there instead.
One thing we know for sure is that Amanda Waller continues to be in complete control of both villains and metahumans.
The Origins of Cyclone
Maxine Hunkel's Cyclone, also known as Quintessa Swindell, is the squad's newest member. When she comes to Hawkman's property, her identification card reveals that she is also known as the Red Tornado. The story of Black Adam also included a quick summary of the history of Cyclone. While she employs nanites to cure Karim after he is shot, she also reveals that she obtained her abilities through nanites as well. Later on, Maxine reveals the truth about her background: she was abducted by scientists and implanted with nanobots.
Given this information, it is quite possible that a similar scientist from the comics, who was also responsible for creating the Red Tornado android, kidnapped Cyclone.
Kahndaq's Real Heroes
One of the strong points of Black Adam is how it is spot on when handling justice and punishment. Even though Black Adam fought Sabbac and his troops bravely, he would not think twice before killing anyone who stood in his way. The ways in which his anti-hero status develops in the future are fascinating. In spite of this, he says that heroes do still exist in Kahndaq, a reference to Adrianna's comic book persona.
While this was speculated to transpire in Black Adam, she really inherits some of Teth-Adam's abilities and changes into Isis, just like Shazam's siblings did. Some pre-movie comics feature a vigilante named Adrianna, who goes by the name "Isis." This scenario works nicely as a teaser for a sequel in which Adrianna takes on the role of Isis with all of her mystical abilities.
Amanda Waller's Cameos
Viola Davis as Amanda Waller has a notable cameo in the movie. It was nice to have her as the unifying factor within the DCEU. An intriguing side point to their conversation occurs when Hawkman's computer recognizes her as a member of the Justice League, a reference to the group about the Justice Society. This might be an insignificant point, but it poses the question of why the Justice Society, and not the Justice League, was tasked with eliminating Black Adam.
It also paints a picture in which Amanda Waller is involved with every major group in the DCEU, playing the role of Nick Fury in dispatching the Justice League, the Justice Society of America, and the Suicide Squad to whatever disasters she deems necessary.
A Reference To Black Adam’s Justice League Status In The Comics
In the movie, we were treated to various Easter eggs that were quite easy to spot; however, have you noticed this one? When Black Adam finally gives in and decides to work with the Justice Society of America to rescue Amon, who Intergang has kidnaped, he makes a sarcastic remark about how much he enjoys working in teams. While it may initially seem insignificant, it points to a comic reference in a clever way.
However, it's possible to see this as a reference to his past time in the JSA and his current position in the Justice League.
The Batman Reference
In his last fight against Sabbac, Doctor Fate sends Black Adam, who is in stasis, an encouraging message. As it turns out, Fate says that the world does not always require a savior in the form of a white knight and that it occasionally requires "something darker." Well, it is possible that this is a clear reference to Batman, the Dark Knight of Gotham City in the DC Extended Universe.
And unfortunately, Kent Nelson met his end when he offered himself as a sacrifice to defeat Sabbac and save the Justice Society of America and Kahndaq.
Henry Cavill’s Superman
None other than our beloved Superman (portrayed by Henry Cavill) makes the final appearance of Black Adam to make us go crazy and want more action. He appears after Black Adam has finished destroying Waller's message. It is not certain whether Superman and Black Adam fight against each other or join forces in the future of the DC Extended Universe. However, Superman wants to talk to Teth-Adam about how scared he's left the planet.
In any event, Superman's return demonstrates that despite Teth Adam being the most formidable force on Earth, Kal-El holds the title of the most powerful entity in the cosmos.
John Williams’ Superman Theme
Now that's interesting to see. Who could have predicted they wouldn't use the Superman theme that Hans Zimmer composed? However, Black Adam uses the Superman theme composed by John Williams rather than the score composed by Hans Zimmer for Man of Steel. Also, contrary to how he appeared in earlier DCEU movies, Henry Cavill's Superman now has a traditional comic curl in his hair and wears a brighter, more vivid suit than before.
Well, this is just one example of how the style of Henry Cavill's Superman has changed compared to what we were used to seeing. Maybe we’ll get to see more changes in the future.
First Appearance Black Adam (Hurut)
In the movie, we learn that Teth-Adam wasn't the Wizard's Council's first choice for Champion. Teth-Adam's son Hurut was Kahndaq's original protector as he magically transformed in front of the Rock of Eternity. While his more primitive art style is a nod to Black Adam's first comic book appearance, the use of lighting and shadows is a tribute to that debut. He channeled the strength to aid his father's recovery.
After that, he transforms into a different look, one that is portrayed by Young Rock star Dwayne Johnson (Uli Latukefu).
Post-Credits Resemblance
One could argue that we were lucky (or unlucky) to see a leaked Henry Cavill's Superman post-credits appearance in Black Adam even before they released the film. After all, it had the fans speculate that Superman would return to the DCEU and pave the way for a Man of Steel sequel. Not many know that this is the second post-credits scene in which Black Adam and Superman briefly interacted.
The ending of DC League of Super-Pets was very similar, with the exception that Black Adam and his dog, Anubis, met with Superman and Krypto. This was done to suggest a potential future team-up or rivalry in an upcoming sequel.
It Had An R-Rating At First
Who would have thought a movie starring The Rock could be rated R for violence and gore? However, because of Black Adam's aggressive and violent demeanor in the comics, Rock's picture was initially given an R rating. While there are many excellent R-rated superhero films, studios typically avoid them since the rating discourages younger audiences from seeing the film, resulting in a lesser box office gross. Black Adam was given an R rating by the MPAA at first, as producers Beau Flynn and Hiram Garcia disclosed in an interview with Collider.
The MPAA required many cuts of Black Adam before they would even consider downgrading it to PG-13, but the filmmakers never wavered from their original vision. They explained, "There are some personal moments that we really love, but we had to let them go. But we never compromised, we never had to cut a scene."
Dwayne Johnson Wanted Superman’s Cameo and He Got It…Eventually
What's not to love about Superman's mid-credit cameo in Black Adam? After all, the scene both hinted at his eventual return to the DCEU and set the stage for a future film featuring Cavill's Superman squaring off against Johnson's Black Adam. So let's give Dwayne Johnson credit for that. After the recent DC film Black Adam, Johnson took to social media to announce that he had "worked for years" to get Cavill's version of Superman back in the spotlight.
Superman wasn't supposed to be in the film at all, and when DC boss Walter Hamada rejected Johnson's offer, he bypassed Hamada and went straight to Warner Bros. execs, who were on board with the proposal.
Dwayne Johnson’s First Outfit Wasn’t Like He Had Imagined
While promoting Black Adam on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Rock didn't hold back from explaining some of Hollywood's secret sauce. Johnson has been very active in marketing Black Adam, and many have noticed that he's resorted to his glory days as a wrestler, but he wasn't quite as self-assured the first time he tried on the suit. But this was the suit's prototype, developed before the muscular padding was removed. Johnson said he felt like he was part of a Saturday Night Live sketch.
"It was, like, ridiculous. So I asked them to remove the muscle padding. I wanted to work hard. I wanted to be in the best shape of my life because I feel like Black Adam just commanded that kind of performance," the actor said.
Dwayne Johnson’s Spin-Off Ideas
Actors Quintessa Swindel and Noah Centineo shared their idea of a film that seems inspired by The Godfather Part II. Given that Johnson proposed reviving Superman, it's not a surprise that the ex-wrestler has fully formed ideas about where the series may go from here. "The goal is to really expand the universe, and introduce new characters, and spin-off, and be really strategic about the plan," the Rock explained.
We must admit that Black Adam did an excellent job setting up some interesting stories for future films in the DCEU. Viewers can think of it as more of an introduction to a larger story than the main focus of either a Black Adam vs. Superman movie or a JSA movie that stands on its own. But first, Black Adam must take on Shazam.
The Embarrassing Doctor Fate Costume
It's clear that the Black Adam cast had trouble feeling like themselves in their outfits. For instance, Pierce Brosnan, who plays Doctor Fate, experienced similar embarrassment when dressed as the character as he saw Johnson struggle with his bulky muscle padding suit. Despite the hero's glitzy costume and gold helmet, Brosnan felt anything but elegant while filming in the mo-cap suit since he couldn't see out of the helmet and because the white balls on the suit made him appear silly.
"You’re standing there in a mocap suit… which is the most inelegant and, kind of, humorous thing to wear. Ping-pong balls, grey tights, you know you’ve got to have a sense of humor," the actor admitted.
Johnson’s Immense Desire To Play The Role
Dwayne Johnson's long-term desire has been to star in the DC picture in which he plays the anti-hero, who is brought into the present world after spending the previous five thousand years in prison. Black Adam joins the ranks of those films that narrowly avoided becoming another "development hell". The casting of Johnson as Black Adam was announced in 2014, making the movie's development schedule eight years longer than is reasonable. Many people are unaware that a Shazam film was in the works in the 2000s or that Johnson signed on to play the film's antagonist Black Adam in 2007.
Some may doubt Johnson's passion for the project, but his dedication to the character of Black Adam over the course of 15 years is probably one of the most inspiring examples of on-set commitment among superhero actors.
Listening To What The Fans Say
When asked what Dwayne Johnson thought was most crucial when creating Black Adam, the wrestler-turned-actor, in the usual fashion, gave credit to the source material's devoted fans. In his own words, the actor elaborated, "If you really listen to the fans, they will help inform you on where you should go with the story, with your next steps, whether it's a micro-story in terms of your next 10 steps, or if it's macro."
The latest superhero film hasn't been well received, but it is the first DCEU film to take a Marvel Studios-style strategy by catering to the desires of the audience. So we can hope that it paves a path for studios to pay heed to what the fans actually want.