How Dwayne Johnson’s Bid for DC Power Flamed Out

From chaos comes order, to paraphrase Nietzsche.

And that is certainly the hope in the new year when it comes to the DCExtended Universe, which endured the most tumultuous 12 months of any studiodivision in 2022. Amid the upheaval, the release plan for the upcoming “TheFlash” teetered following a series of arrests and meltdowns involving its starEzra Miller, closely guarded “Aquaman” deal points were laid bare in theJohnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, and the $78 million “Batgirl” moviewas permanently shelved in post-production as a write- down. All that was justan appetizer for an executive shake-up that landed James Gunn and Peter Safranin the DC driver’s seat. But perhaps nothing was as dramatic as Henry Cavillreturning briefly as Superman in a “Black Adam” cameo in October, only to losethe gig two months later.

More from Variety

As 2023 kicks off, DC bosses Gunn and Safran continue to sift through therubble and will soon reveal their three-year interconnected vision for thecinematic universe, which won’t include Cavill’s Superman or Wonder Woman atall. But things could have gone in an alternative direction: Behind thescenes, a different group made a play for control of DC. Not long after theWarner Bros. Discovery merger closed in April, Dwayne Johnson directly pitchedCEO David Zaslav on a multiyear plan for Black Adam and a Cavill-led Supermanin which the two properties would interweave, setting up a Superman-versus-Black Adam showdown, sources say. “Black Adam” producers Hiram Garcia, who isJohnson’s former brother-in-law, and Beau Flynn also were part of the braintrust looking to take DC down a new path. Other sources confirmed the meetingbut downplayed any discussion of Black Adam’s future.

Story continues

Although the move took place amid a power vacuum created as former DC headWalter Hamada and Warner Bros. film chief Toby Emmerich prepared to exit, itruffled feathers internally, sources add. “Dwayne went around everyone, whichdidn’t sit well,” says one.

Eventually, new Warner Bros. film co-heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdyapproved a Cavill cameo in “Black Adam,” despite the fact that Emmerich hadmade the call in 2018 to find another actor to don the red cape.

But “Black Adam,” which bowed Oct. 21, fizzled with a $391 million worldwidehaul against a $195 budget plus $40 million in reshoots, scuttling any plansfor more outings for the lightning bolt-wielding antihero and officiallyending the Cavill Superman era. Cavill parted ways with his manager, Johnson’sex-wife Dany Garcia, this year, but a source says it was unrelated to the DCdrama and she remains a strategic adviser to the actor. Meanwhile, theJohnson-Warners relationship already was wearing thin after Johnson pushed fora producing credit on the animated film “DC League of Super-Pets,” whichopened in July, but did little to promote it. The actor also insisted on atequila bar at the New York premiere of “Black Adam” featuring his Teremanabrand, despite the film being rated PG-13.

“His demands increased and the returns just weren’t there,” notes anotherinsider.

Still, box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian says Johnson found himself in “aCatch-22” with “Black Adam.” “You can’t have a more modest budget when thislevel of talent is involved,” he notes of Johnson’s track record. “Budgets arecommensurate with the talent involved. Something with a lower budget like’Shazam!’ is dubbed a hit, because ‘hits’ are based more on profitability.”

“Shazam!” earned $366 million worldwide in 2019 off a $100 million budget.Dergarabedian notes that “Black Adam” still managed to crack the box officetop 10 for 2022.

As for what else Gunn and Safran have planned for DC’s future, sourcesdescribe it as a broad but not blanket reset. At this point, nothing is ruledout. Given that Miller has stayed out of trouble since beginning mental healthtreatment in the summer, some executives are amenable to continuing with theactor as the world-saving speedster after “The Flash” bows on June 16.“Aquaman,” “Shazam!, ” “Blue Beetle” and Gunn’s “Peacemaker” series for HBOMax all could have a place at the table. Gunn and Safran, who were recommendedby De Luca, have the full backing of the WBD top ranks.

And in a testament to the notion that no Hollywood relationship is ever trulysevered, “Batgirl” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah tell _variety_that they are open to working with Warner Bros. down the road.

“We’re fans of DC, and if we get the chance in the future to do something inthat universe, we’re never gonna say no,” El Arbi said at last month’s Red SeaFilm Festival. “I mean, of course, our only condition is that the movie needsto come out.”

Best of Variety

Click here to read the full article.