While fans were excited about Black Adam for a very long time, the movie’s star, Dwayne Johnson, was anticipating it much more. The actor was cast as the anti-hero in 2014, but it was known that he was expressing interest in playing the character way back in 2007.
Black Adam Is Out in Cinemas
The Rock’s rigorous training for Black Adam began in 2020, and now that the movie is out, critics and audiences have had their chance to say what they think about it. While the movie is supposed to be the next chapter of DC Movies, the critics did not have too many positive things to say about it.
They screened the movie before its October 21 release and weren’t too pleased with it. Eric Eisenberg of CinemaBlend rated it 2.5 stars out of five, stating that it struggled to stand out in the crowded superhero genre and called it underwhelming with some interesting ideas. Other critics were not much kinder, and Matt Singer of ScreenCrush wondered why a charming actor like Dwayne Johnson would feel so passionate bout playing a one-dimensional character like Black Adam. He rated the movie four out of 10, saying it wasn’t worth the wait.
Fans Seem to Like Black Adam
While the critics apparently didn’t like Black Adam very much, the situation is different when it comes to the fans coming out of the theaters. Audiences that polled the film in CinemaScore gave it an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale, and it made $7.6 million from previews, making it the highest solo outing of Johnson’s career. It even bested Shazam!‘s $5.9 million during previews. On its first day, the movie made $25 million, and it seems the expectations at the box office could be met by Black Adam.
The show follows the Rock as Black Adam, who is freed after thousands of years of imprisonment. An organization of superheroes called the Justice Society is called in to try and neutralize him. Accompanying Dwayne Johnson in the movie are stars like Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge, Quintessa Swindell, and Noah Centineo, who play the members of the Justice Society. The movie was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who has a strong background in the horror and action/adventure genres.
The John Wick Character Was Originally Meant to Be a 75-Year-Old Man
There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Keanu Reeves did an outstanding job portraying the iconic character of John Wick. With three movies out and the fourth in the works, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role. However, a new book revealed that the protagonist was actually 75 years old!
The Iconic John Wick
John Wick is an action movie franchise written by Derek Kolstad and directed by Chad Stahelski, starring Keanu Reeves. Wick is a retired assassin that left his career to live a normal life with his beloved wife. Once she passed away, he received a puppy that was her last gift to him. A notorious mobster goes after Wick’s prized possessions and his new puppy, causing John to seek out vengeance. Wick becomes both the hunter and the hunted as a bounty is placed on his head.
Alternative Casting Choices
As it turns out, John Wick could have been a very different franchise. It’s been revealed that the protagonist of the story was meant to be 75, stepping back into action 25 years after having retired. Some of the first names that came to mind for the filmmakers were veterans like Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford. Casting one of these iconic actors would have set a different tone to the now well-known and critically-acclaimed movies.
How Keanu Reeves Got the Part
Film producer, Basil Iwanyk explained that his friend Jimmy Darmody, a CAA agent, asked if he had any action roles for Keanu Reeves. Although he clearly isn’t 75, Keanu was the perfect fit for the role as a well-known action movie star for the last twenty-five years. When he got the role of John Wick in 2014, Keanu was 50 years old. It’s undeniable that his portrayal of the role was beyond successful. The Franchise returns to screens with chapter four on March 24, 2023!