Why Is The Rock Spoiling Black Adam's Biggest Surprise?

Contains spoilers for "Black Adam"

Let us be the first to say, the hierarchy of the DC Universe is about to change.

Early reactions for DC's "Black Adam" are rolling in — and they're mostly positive. The decade-long passion project of star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the film sees the titular antihero come face to face with the Justice Society of America (a team of superheroes led by Pierce Brosnan's stoically mystical Doctor Fate). As The Hollywood Reporter has compiled, online responses from entertainment critics on Twitter have praised the intense action sequences, the visual effects, and Johnson's turn as the morally complex Teth Adam — although several mention weak scripting and storytelling.

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture wrote a tempered review of the film, which ended with him relaying that, in his theater, the "Post-credits scene got the biggest reaction of all." An endorsement like that would surely have fans electric about what could possibly be revealed in such a sequence — if the scene hadn't already been spoiled by Johnson himself.

Seriously, you really shouldn't ignore the spoiler warning if you want to be surprised — "Black Adam's" post-credits scene has massive implications for the future of the DC Universe.

As originally leaked by popular anonymous source @MyTimeToShineH, the post-credits scene for "Black Adam" sees the return of Henry Cavill's Superman for the first time since 2017's "Justice League." This is far from the first time an inside source or early-watcher has leaked a Marvel or DC post-credits scene. Normally, such leaks come and go without so much as an acknowledgment from the cast and crew — but Dwayne Johnson has taken a slightly different approach.

As IGN reports, Johnson is not only seemingly confirming the leak, but speaking at length about the process of making it happen and what it means for the future of the DC Universe. (Mind you, we're still over a week away from the film's release.) Without directly addressing the leak, Johnson told Entertainment Tonight about what "Black Adam" means for Superman's future: "We've all been fighting for this moment. So I will say this: Welcome home." 

As The Wrap recalled, rumors abounded as early as this summer that Cavill would reprise his role in Johnson's film, and that he would announce as much at a surprise comic-con appearance — speculation stoked by Deadline. He ultimately did not appear, though the popular comedic comic book news podcast "The Weekly Planet" relayed from a reliable source that a positive COVID test prevented Cavill's appearance. Regardless, Johnson is clearly passionate about meeting DC fans' expectations, as well as the future of Superman and Black Adam. As early as 2015, Johnson had been eager for his character to go up against the Man of Steel, and it looks like this match-up will finally come to pass.

Warner Bros. and DC's "Black Adam" strikes theaters on October 21, 2022