“Suicide Squad 2” may serve as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s introduction to the DC Universe as the super-villain Black Adam, two insiders familiar with the idea told TheWrap.
The insiders told TheWrap that the current plan for the sequel is for the members of Suicide Squad to be tasked with tracking down a weapon of mass destruction. That weapon? Black Adam himself. The villain is best known in DC Comics as the main nemesis of superhero Shazam.
“The Rock” first hinted at what’s cooking in May, when he told Fandango, “We have a really cool surprise for Black Adam that I can’t reveal, in terms of where we will see Black Adam being introduced.”
“Suicide Squad 2” is scheduled for an October 2018 production start, and The Rock’s busy schedule during that time includes a potential fifth season of HBO’s “Ballers,” Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” and his “Fast and Furious” spin-off with Jason Statham.
But “Suicide Squad 2” shouldn’t be too much of a scheduling issue, because Black Adam’s part shouldn’t take much time to shoot, the insiders said.
Johnson has been attached to play the character since 2008, but there is currently no writer or filmmaker attached to “Black Adam.”
Earlier this year, Johnson teased a meeting with DC Films co-head Geoff Johns, promising “hope, optimism & FUN.”
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Gavin O’Connor is expected to write and possibly direct “Suicide Squad 2,” an individual with knowledge of the project tells TheWrap.
The first “Suicide Squad,” which starred Will Smith and Margot Robbie, earned nearly $750 million worldwide on a $175 million budget before promotion and advertising. The film holds an abysmal 25 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes… but that was without the power of The Rock.
Johnson is represented by Viewpoint and WME.
A representative for Warner Bros. declined to comment and representatives for Johnson did not immediately respond to TheWraps’s request for comment.