Noah Centineo Will Play Atom Smasher In Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Shazam!’ Spinoff ‘Black Adam’

Many an actor will enthusiastically talk up a project they are attached to for years that won’t ever happen. This phenomenon occurs in the superhero movie world quite some bit. Still, there have been films that have beat the development odds, see Ryan Reynolds’ long-term commitment to “Deadpool” which eventually paid off and Dwayne Johnson’s affection for “Black Adam,” a nemesis of “Shazam!” that he’d hope would lead his own anti-hero movie for several years now. Given “Black Adam” is far from a well-known hero, it seemed doubtful that Johnson’s mooted film will ever happen, but the film has a director, a release date, and is definitely in motion towards a production start date. The latest? Casting, including the addition of young breakout Noah Centineo.

READ MORE: Dwayne Johnson Announces’ Black Adam’ Will Take On ‘Avatar 2’ In December 2021

Centineo made waves with his turn in, “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” and Hollywood definitely noticed his performance (read: boyish good looks, height and build) and potential. He was quickly cast as “He-Man” in Sony’s “Masters Of The Universe” movie and was delayed and now potentially off the table ultimately, but it illustrates the faith Tinseltown has in this still-relatively unknown star to lead his own major franchise movie. While the dust settles on whatever happens to “He-Man,” Warner Bros. has bagged him for the upcoming “Shazam!” spin-off Shazam.

 READ MORE: Zachary Levi Says WB Has Wildly Ambitious Plans For 3 ‘Shazam!’ Films & At Least 1 ‘Black Adam’ Film

“Black Adams” is already said to occur in different time periods and reportedly includes the 1940s “Golden Age” team, the Justice Society Of America—a precursor to the Justice League. Centineo, however, will be playing a more modern character, Atom Smasher, the godson of the Golden Age Atom character and known for his power of growth and super strength.

READ MORE: ‘Shazam 2′ Dated For April 2022, Less Than 4 Months After Spin-Off Film’ Black Adam’ Hits Theaters

This gives credence to the idea that “Black Adam” is set in two time periods—the past, which features the 1940s era Justice Society—and the present, which will contain characters like Atom Smasher and likely give way to connections with the “Shazam!”-verse by the end of the movie. It sounds like an origin story about a “complex and conflicted anti-hero,” where Adam may be more akin to good guy, eventually making way for his turn as a heel by the end. 

 READ MORE: Dwayne Johnson Says ‘Black Adam’ Will Introduce The World To The Justice Society of America

Jaume Collet-Serra, who directed Johnson in Disney’s upcoming “The Jungle Cruise” with Emily Blunt, will sit in the director’s chair, but when is up in the air due to the COVD-19 pandemic. “Black Adam” was revealed to be a December 22, 2021 release date by Johnson earlier this year, but there’s actually been no official word from Warner Bros. about the film’s date as of yet. [THR]