Warning: This post contains Black Adam spoilers
Dwayne Johnson confirms that a central character who died in… Black Adam will return in the future. The DC Extended Universe movie hit theaters this weekend and is already causing a stir at the box office despite Black Adam’s mixed reviews. The film marks Johnson’s superhero debut as he embodies the role of misunderstood champion Teth-Adam. Adam got his superpowers from his son, but after the death of his family, he sought revenge on the brutal monarchy of Kahndaq, with his ruthless tactics that led the wizards to imprison him for 5,000 years. In modern times, Adam is liberated by Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) and he helps to free Kahndaq from his foreign military oppressors, the Intergang.
However, Adam’s brutality draws the attention of the Justice Society of America (JSA). Members Carter Hall / Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Kent Nelson / Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Maxine Hunkel / Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Albert “Al” Rothstein / Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) initially resist and convince Adam to give up his powers. But later they reunite against the Intergang. However, in an unexpected twist, the leader of the Intergang is resurrected as the supervillain Sabbac. Fate sees an ominous foreboding of the JSA’s impending death, so to protect his friends, he goes after Sabbac alone as he tries to wake Adam who is being held captive by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) underwater. As fate manages to set Black Adam free, he himself is murdered at the hands of Sabbac, causing the most tragic death in Black Adam.
But in a new tweet Johnson has confirmed that the Doctor Fate story is not over yet. Brosnan’s superhero is also one of Johnson’s favorites, and the superstar has reassured fans that they’ll be seeing more of him in the coming days. Watch his tweet below:
How can the doctor’s fate return to the DCEU?
Even before Black Adam hit theaters, Johnson had announced plans are in the works for more stories for the Justice Society of America members in the DCEU. Part of the purpose of Black Adam was to introduce the JSA to the DCEU and establish its presence in the universe, and the film did that foundation quite effectively. Brosnan’s performance was undoubtedly a highlight in Black Adam, with critics acknowledging that he powered the otherwise repetitive plot beats and thin storytelling. So it would be a total shame to lose his astute Doctor Fate with the film, but thankfully that isn’t the case as there seems to be a narrative agenda behind Doctor Fate’s death in Black Adam.
In the DCEU, there are countless ways to bring Brosnan back as his beloved wizard superhero. Of course, he could be included in future projects through flashbacks, especially if there’s one that focuses on Hawkman, as there was a lot unsaid about their company’s history in Black Adam. Brosnan’s character could even get his own prequel movie, similar to how Marvel gave Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow a solo movie after her death in Avengers: Endgame. But these opportunities make Brosnan’s return a one-time only. If DCEU really wants to preserve Brosnan’s talent in the future, the best option is to take advantage of the Multiverse, as getting a Doctor Fate from another dimension can really make the character stick. That said, despite a poignant arc in Black Adamthere is a lot to learn about Doctor Fate’s life and his powers, so it will be interesting to see how he is reintroduced to the DCEU.
Source: Dwayne Johnson/ Twitter