All 5 DCEU Movies Set Up By Black Adam
The DC Universe grows with Black Adam, which sets up several new DCEU movies. Warner Bros.’s attempt to make a DC shared universe has taken many forms over the last decade, but plans for Dwayne Johnson to play Black Adam have been part of it since the beginning. Black Adam’s release in October 2022 put an end to 15 years of the movie’s development and various ideas for how to introduce Dwayne Johnson’s anti-hero to the franchise. Now that the wait has come to an end, Black Adam seems to play a significant role in setting up the DC Universe’s future.
Even as DC Studios finds new leadership thanks to James Gunn and Peter Safran, Black Adam’s connections to the wider franchise mean seeds are planted for what can come next. The movie surprisingly featured some familiar DCEU characters, such as Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and Superman (Henry Cavill). Still, it also introduced several others who could be important to the future. Portions of Black Adam can even be interpreted as set up for future films, whether they be sequels or spinoffs. Here are all the DCEU movies set up by Black Adam.
Black Adam 2
The DCEU movie Black Adam most clearly sets up is its direct sequel, Black Adam 2. Warner Bros. has not officially announced plans to make another film starring Dwayne Johnson’s DC character, but the actor has already confirmed that he is working on what is coming next for Black Adam. That will surely mean Black Adam 2 happens, especially as the first film has been a success at the box office and received very positive reviews from general audiences. It also helps that Black Adam’s ending includes several teases for what could transpire in a sequel.
The most apparent tease of Black Adam 2 comes with Dwayne Johnson’s anti-hero deciding to remain in Kahndaq as its protector, not its ruler. This moment sets up more adventures for Black Adam with Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) and her son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui). Black Adam even teases how Adrianna and Amon could get superpowers in a sequel. The film does not directly set up the threat that Black Adam will encounter next, as Johnson confirmed Black Adam’s Superman post-credits scene is not a tease that they will fight in Black Adam 2.
Man of Steel 2
Another DCEU movie set up by Black Adam is undoubtedly Man of Steel 2 starring Henry Cavill’s Superman. The appearance of the Kryptonian hero in the post-credits was done with plans in mind to keep using Cavill. According to reports, Warner Bros. is developing Man of Steel 2 once again as they are currently seeking writers and directors to take on the sequel. The film will arrive at least a decade after the original Man of Steel hit theaters. Still, Black Adam bringing Henry Cavill back as Superman is meant to get audiences excited once more for another film starring DC’s iconic hero.
Based on Superman’s Black Adam cameo, there is a chance that Man of Steel 2 will be where audiences learn what the two all-powerful characters need to talk about. It would not be surprising to see Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam have a cameo in the long-awaited sequel, even if he is not the main villain. For what it is worth, Henry Cavill has repeatedly said he would like Brainiac to be the villain of Man of Steel 2. Whether that happens depends on who joins the project creatively and how the sequel fits into James Gunn’s DC Studios plans.
Justice Society
There is also the possibility that Black Adam sets up a new DCEU movie that will star the Justice Society. The film introduces Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) as members of the new DC super team. Black Adam’s ending does change the team’s status quo a bit, as Doctor Fate dies, allowing the helmet to pass to a new person in the future. But Hawkman, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone are still part of the Justice Society program. Since the team is meant to help protect the entire planet, there is room for the Justice Society to replace the Justice League in DC’s future.
The DCEU could take a Justice Society spinoff movie in several directions, possibly even with it focusing on one of the characters instead of being a true ensemble movie. Black Adam also sets up how the team’s roster can continue to evolve in a potential spinoff film. Hawkman appears to have a rotating roster for the team and chooses members based on specific missions. With the DCEU needing a new Doctor Fate, the Justice Society team will have to change. This could mean a Justice Society movie can introduce other members from the comics, such as The Atom, Hourman, Hawkgirl, and Stargirl.
Suicide Squad 3
It is also possible that Suicide Squad 3 is set up as another DCEU movie through Black Adam. The movie features surprising connections to the franchise with Amanda Waller’s return and a cameo from Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland). The big surprise came when Black Adam showed a new Task Force X black site prison under the arctic. Black Adam is imprisoned there temporarily, but the movie shows that he is far from the only prisoner at this high-security location. These prisoners could be how Black Adam sets up Suicide Squad 3, as they could either break out and be the next Task Force X targets or help create the most powerful version of the team to date.
There is no confirmation that Suicide Squad 3 is happening at DC Studios, but James Gunn now taking control of the franchise makes the movie much more likely. It is known that he was pitching a secret film to Warner Bros. before taking the new job, but he can still direct movies if he wants. Even though Black Adam was made before Gunn’s promotion, he could have had a hand in this Task Force X tease since the program, Amanda Waller, and Emilia Harcourt are connected to him. If this was not intentional, James Gunn’s DC Studios plans could still use the new revelations to make Suicide Squad 3.
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
Shazam: Fury of the Gods might also be a DCEU movie set up by Black Adam. There were originally plans for Dwayne Johnson’s character to appear in the first film as the villain, but those were scrapped in favor of the Black Adam solo film. Black Adam might ignore his canon backstory, but the appearance of the Council of Wizards and Djimon Hounsou’s Shazam Wizard still creates some connections between them. The Wizard returns in Shazam 2 and will seemingly be imprisoned by some other powerful DC gods. This may result from the gods growing angry that the demon villain Sabbac was unleashed in Black Adam and that the Council of Wizards’ champions are misusing their powers.
