Black Adam End Credits Scene Explained: “We Should Talk”

Editor’s Note: The following comprises spoilers for Black AdamBack on Christmas Day 2016, Dwayne Johnson posted a really memorable image on his Instagram that depicted himself and Henry Cavill sharing a drink. The caption of the picture referenced how each of those performers had been within the DC Extended Universe by wishing viewers joyful holidays “from Black Adam and Superman.” Johnson proceeded to tease followers in all places by saying “we’re excited for what the long run brings” and dropping the hashtag #DCWorldsWillCollide. The film Black Adam nonetheless didn’t have a launch date (and it’s probably that the concept of this character anchoring a solo function nonetheless hadn’t emerged but), however the idea of the big-screen variations of Black Adam and Superman having a showdown was already within the air.

Dwayne Johnson Had a Dream

Loads has occurred within the six years since that Instagram publish. Dwyane Johnson saved on pushing and pushing and eventually received a solo film greenlit for the DC character he was first employed to play again in 2007. Both a CG mustache and a Netflix character it’s best to toss a coin to without end altered the general public’s notion of Cavill. And now, the mid-credits sequence for Black Adam has paid off that Instagram publish from 2016 whereas additionally teasing out a future that, only a handful of weeks after Black Adam first hit film theaters, is already doomed to being eternally outdated. But let’s again up a minute. Before exploring the unique implications of this preliminary sequence and why it’s now now not related to the way forward for live-action film variations of DC Comics characters, let’s break down what occurs on this Black Adam mid-credits sequence. No, Black Adam doesn’t have an end-credits scene, only one mid-credits sequence.

Amanda Waller Brings Out the Big Guns

This scene happens within the ruins of a palace in Kahndaq that Black Adam has returned to all through the previous film. A drone flies down and tasks a reside video message from Amanda Waller (Viola Davis). She expresses frustration with how Black Adam foiled her earlier plan to maintain him incarcerated but additionally notes that he now has her “consideration.” While noting that she will not pressure him again right into a cell, Waller additionally tells Black Adam that if he ever leaves the town of Kahndaq, she is going to take quick motion to cease him. This prompts Black Adam to smirk and, reveling in his powers, notice that “there’s nobody on this planet who can stop me.”

Superman Needs to Talk to Black Adam

Never one to be shaken, Waller notes that she will name in a few of her pals who aren’t from this world to take down Black Adam. With their dialog now completed, one other superpowered, flying entity instantly descends and lands close to Black Adam. Initially, the mud generated by their arrival obscures the identification of this newcomer, although it turns into shortly obvious who it’s. “It’s been a while since anyone’s made the world this nervous,” the determine says earlier than stepping ahead into the sunshine and revealing that they’re Cavill’s Superman. As he emerges from the shadows, he’s accompanied by some notes from the unique John Williams Superman theme from 1978. “Black Adam,” he calmly says, “we should talk.” The latest antihero within the DC Extended Universe softly smiles because the scene cuts to black. There’s fairly a bit to course of right here.

RELATED: Who’s Stronger: Black Adam or Shazam?

Where Has Superman Been Since Justice League?

For starters, that is the primary look of Henry Cavill on-screen as Superman since 2017’s Justice League (although beforehand recorded footage of Cavill appeared within the 2021 function Zack Snyder’s Justice League). While it’s nifty to see the actor once more within the DC Extended Universe, his model of Superman hasn’t been fully absent from this franchise since Justice League. His Superman appeared within the ultimate moments of Shazam!, albeit from the neck down, whereas the character additionally confirmed up principally obscured within the Season 1 finale of Peacemaker and was talked about as being put within the ICU by Bloodsport (Idris Elba) in The Suicide Squad.

While Cavill’s Superman hasn’t been headlining new DC Extended Universe motion pictures not too long ago, he’s been continually referenced all through post-Justice League DC Extended Universe tasks. It was solely a matter of time earlier than Cavill discovered a gap, even along with his schedule dominated by The Witcher, to reprise this position. As for what this tease might imply for the long run, properly, the long run this sequence was teasing was one the place Superman and Black Adam as rivals who might sq. off in a film. Johnson’s been brazenly passionate about this idea, which has been explored a handful of instances within the comics. It’s unclear what DC Extended Universe film will function this duo going toe-to-toe. However, if Black Adam manages to match pre-release expectations for its field workplace run, chances are high audiences will get extra readability on that matter quickly.

This scene additionally makes it clear that Superman has some type of dynamic with Amanda Waller, an intriguing improvement since there was no prior direct connection between the 2 characters. Considering her presence in Peacemaker and Black Adam in 2022 alone, it’s clear the DCEU now desires to make the most of Viola Davis rather more ceaselessly and throughout varied components of this fictional world (quite than simply with characters from the Suicide Squad motion pictures). Only time will inform if this implies she’ll proceed to have a presence within the solo Black Adam motion pictures or if she’ll even spill over into no matter occurs subsequent for Superman in his standalone motion pictures.

Noticeably absent from this mid-credits tease? Shazam (Zachary Levi). Black Adam is, in any case, the Green Goblin to Shazam’s Spider-Man within the comics. One would assume teasing out a showdown between these two DC figures could be a prime precedence. But pitting Superman and Black Adam in opposition to each other clearly is taking priority over having Dwayne Johnson and Zachary Levi tussle. The absence of Shazam from this mid-credits scene is particularly unusual for the reason that Black Adam film doesn’t make any makes an attempt to detach Black Adam from his lighter counterpart. This antihero nonetheless has to say the phrase “shazam” to both acquire or lose his powers, he has the lightning bolt on his chest on his superhero costume, and Djimon Hounsou’s wizard from Shazam! makes a cameo look in Black Adam.

What Does the Future Hold for Black Adam and Superman?

In simply two months since Black Adam got here out, the complete way forward for DC Comics characters on the massive display has modified radically. With it, the implications of this Black Adam mid-credits scene haven’t simply modified, however have grow to be comically outdated. Not solely has Black Adam struggled sufficient on the field workplace to make a sequel unlikely, however James Gunn and Peter Safran have taken on the obligations of main the DC Films division. One of their first acts in these new positions was to dismiss Henry Cavill as Superman, with plans now in place for a brand new model of the character to seem portrayed by an unknown actor in a solo Superman movie written by Gunn.

With the complete panorama of live-action DC Comics variations about to get an overhaul, it’s uncertain any of the characters or plotlines from Black Adam as a film will likely be revisited anytime quickly, not to mention the prospect of a duel between Johnson’s Black Adam and Cavill’s Superman. All the promise of that Instagram publish from December 2016 seemed to be lastly changing into a actuality when Black Adam hit theaters. Audiences strolling out of the theater again when this movie got here out probably walked out of the mid-credits sequence excited for the long run and questioning, to paraphrase the Simpsons character Troy McClure, “who knows what adventures Black Adam and Superman will have between now and the time they become unprofitable?”

Moviegoers won’t ever know what these “adventures” might’ve regarded like now that the trajectory of DC’s future on the massive display has modified drastically in simply the span of some weeks. Whether or not all of the upheaval will likely be price will probably be decided by the general high quality of that upcoming Superman film that’s nonetheless gestating. For now, this Black Adams mid-credits sequence has taken on fully new fascinating connotations. Rather than teasing out a future DCEU followers might get stoked about, the information of Cavill now not taking part in Superman immediately makes it an intriguing relic teasing which corners of the DCEU Dwayne Johnson and firm had been eager on interacting with and which of them (just like the Shazam characters) they gave the impression to be extra ambivalent about. Rather than functioning as a harbinger of the long run, this Black Adam mid-credits scene is now a time capsule of a really particular time limit the place it regarded like Cavill’s Superman would lastly soar once more.

Black Adam is now out there to stream on HBO Max.

Check out extra tales on ‘Black Adam’: