Much has been made about Black Adam, with Johnson hyping up the superhero film as a game-changer for the DC movie franchise moving forward, despite unfavorable reviews. The Black Adam film itself came at a time of uncertainty for DC films, with Discovery acquiring Warner Bros. and causing a few shake-ups internally as well as the end of the DCEU movie timeline, as well as the surprising cancelation of Batgirl. Black Adam was supposed to be a turning point for the franchise, but it doesn’t look as though Black Adam 2 is happening. Here is everything to know about the canceled Black Adam 2.

Black Adam’s DCEU Easter Eggs & References Explained

Debuting a new kind of protector, Black Adam features a plethora of exciting Easter eggs and references to the greater DCEU and the original comics.Black Adam Pitch MeetingThe Latest Black Adam 2 News

As of now, Black Adam 2 has not been confirmed, and indeed appears to at best be in a state of limbo, as the sequel did not show up on James Gunn’s revitalized DCU slate for Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. While there were other exciting new announcements, such as a new Superman and a new Batman, these new revelations also add another problem for Black Adam 2: Henry Cavill is not returning as Superman. While the Black Adam post-credits scene obviously teased this, the actor officially will not be returning for the role, with a new Superman actor set to be cast for Superman: Legacy. Therefore, a Superman vs. Black Adam fight doesn’t look like it’s in the cards.

To add to this, more recent DCU reports have stated that no member of the DCEU Justice League will be reprising their roles within the DCU, which is notable in that it underlines the new era of the franchise attempting to push away from the old by replacing its big superhero castings. This suggests the Rock’s Black Adam casting could also be subject to changes, as it’s impossible for audiences to avoid associating this iteration of the character with his initial DCEU movie role.

Black Adam 2 being snubbed in the Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate isn’t the only troubling update for the future of the superhero. Dwayne Johnson released a tweet that commented on the fact that Black Adam 2 was excluded from the upcoming DC movies slate, but also said “However, DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to continue exploring the most valuable ways Black Adam can be utilized in future DC multiverse chapters.” What this assuredly means is that Black Adam 2 definitively isn’t in the cards, but it doesn’t mean actor Dwayne Johnson won’t appear as the character in other DC properties.

On the plus side, James Gunn replied to Johnson’s tweet, saying “Love @TheRock & I’m always excited to see what he & Seven Bucks do next. Can’t wait to collaborate soon.” This at least suggests Gunn isn’t completely done with Black Adam yet. Given Black Adam‘s post-credits close with the titular character encountering Amanda Waller, it’s possible this might allow Johnson to reprise his role in either Waller’s own series, or Peacemaker season 2. In the meantime, rather than focus on Black Adam 2 the DCU could benefit from exploring other popular characters from the film, such as the Justice Society heroes Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone.

Is Black Adam 2 Happening?

Black Adam 2 has not officially been confirmed by Warner Bros. Considering the DCU Chapter 1 plan goes out past 2026, it’s possible fans might have to wait a while longer before hearing about a potential sequel – and inversely, if the series did finish with its first and only movie, it’ll take some more time for this to become explicitly clear. There had been speculation that Black Adam could cross over to other DCU films, possibly interacting with Shazam, one of the antihero’s nemeses in the comics. However, Black Adam‘s box office numbers weren’t all that great, meaning it appears Gunn and Safran don’t want to move forward with another solo Black Adam movie.

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If Black Adam 2 were to happen, Dwayne Johnson would assuredly reprise his role as the titular antihero, given how much he has personally put into the film. It’s possible that Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) could return for another installment. Unfortunately, Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan) bit the dust during Black Adam, so he won’t be back for the sequel. Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) could also make a return after helping save the world, along with her brother Karim (Mohammed Ahmer).

Black Adam 2 Story Details

What the Black Adam 2 story could have been remains a mystery, as the sequel has been seemingly scrapped according to Dwayne Johnson’s Twitter statement. Black Adam‘s ending saw the fall of Sabbac thanks to the eponymous hero and the Justice Society. Therefore, the next possible avenue for the superhero’s story lies in other DCU projects. Since Superman was teased in the Black Adam post-credits scene, it’s possible that the antihero could show up in Superman: Legacy, though this may not be viable this is given the scale of other DC movie hero recastings to build a fresh slate for the impending movie.

Since Amanda Waller appears in Black Adam‘s post-credits, he could appear in Waller, or Peacemaker season 2 – which would make sense, as Black Adam was in the Suicide Squad comic roster briefly, and Gunn’s approval of the casting could mean a reconfiguration of this storyline lives on. This is a route that holds a lot of promise – and would potentially reunite Johnson and John Cena, who are both wrestling icons – but could be made unlikely by the budget these shows would have, as Johnson’s most recent movie roles have had a salary of several millions. The only near-certainty about where the character could appear next is that it won’t be in Black Adam 2 anytime soon.

Gladiator 2’s Debunked Actor Return Makes Its Maximus Problem A Lot BetterBYROBERT PITMANPUBLISHED 19 HOURS AGO

The status of Russell Crowe’s Maximus in Gladiator 2 has been massively controversial, but this major announcement made things a lot easier.

Gladiator 2 has a major Maximus problem, but the return of one actor has just been debunked, making this issue a lot better. Gladiator 2 will bring the world of the Gladiator franchise back to the big screen, although there is one notable missing element: Maximus. While this initially seemed like a problem, this could actually work for the film, as another bit of Gladiator 2 news has eased the fears of some fans.

Over two decades after the release of the critically acclaimed film Gladiator, Ridley Scott is returning to direct Gladiator 2, continuing the story of the beloved film. Very few details about the story of Gladiator 2 are known, with much of the film being kept tightly under wraps. However, it is known that Russell Crowe’s Maximus won’t be returning in Gladiator 2, with this signaling a big change for the sequel.

Gladiator is often credited with revitalizing the historical epic genre in film, but its complex characters and plot leave some important questions.Djimon Hounsou Not Returning For Gladiator 2 Means Not Bringing Maximus Back Is Easier

Djimon Hounsou will not be returning in Gladiator 2, confirming that another legacy character will not have his story continued in the upcoming sequel. In the original film, Hounsou played Juba, one of the men who befriended Maximus after he was sold into slavery. Unlike Maximus, Juba did not die at the end of the original Gladiator, with many fans having hope that he would return in the sequel.

Although it is sad, Hounsou not returning means that not bringing Maximus back for Gladiator 2 is easier. If Juba were to return, then there would be even more hype for Russell Crowe’s Maximus to make an appearance, something that could hurt the film. Not having Juba or Maximus return will ease expectations, with the decision to not feature legacy characters causing Gladiator 2 to stand on its own.

Why Bringing Back Maximus (In Any Way) Would Be Bad For Gladiator 2

Although it is possible to bring Maximus back in Gladiator 2, doing so in any way would be bad for the film. Exploring Maximus’ time in the Roman afterlife would be way too silly for Gladiator 2, which is fairly grounded despite its religious themes. Having Russell Crowe appear in a dream sequence or a flashback would also be a bad idea, as it would seem like a moment of fan service in a film that should be incredibly serious.

Gladiator 2’s Story Confirms Lucius Really Is Copying Russell Crowe’s Maximus

A recent update on Gladiator 2 reveals that Lucius’ story will be just like Maximus’ in the first Gladiator film, which is a big risk for the sequel.

Gladiator 2 will be focusing on mostly new characters and a new story, and bringing back Maximus and the rest of Gladiator‘s cast would just take away from that. Gladiator 2 should be a time for Ridley Scott’s new characters to be in the spotlight, not classic characters that already had fully fleshed-out arcs decades ago. The prospect of Gladiator 2 is exciting, and the lack of legacy characters makes it even more so.

Robert Pitman is a Movies/TV features writer for ScreenRant and loves all things nerdy. He has had experience with editing and SEO in his time working at WVUA 90.7 FM, the University of Alabama’s official student radio station. Robert is currently a junior at the University of Alabama and is doing a double major in Creative Media and General Business. Robert has been working with ScreenRant since January 2022, and in his time with the outlet has gone on to publish several articles that have found great success. At ScreenRant, Robert is currently a self-publishing Senior Core Features writer, with him covering a variety of topics. Robert mostly writes about perennial TV and movies, theatrical releases, and streaming releases, although he occasionally writes about other topics that he is knowledgeable about.