New Line has tapped The Shallows director Jaume Collet-Serra to helm its Shazam! spin-off Black Adam.
The project will see the director reteaming with Dwayne Johnson, who is set to star as the film’s titular anti-hero. The pair recently wrapped up work on Jungle Cruise, based on the popular Disney theme park attraction.
Based on the DC Comics character, Black Adam (Johnson) is a nearly immortal former Egyptian slave who was previously given the same magical power that Billy Batson was given in Shazam!, making him one of the world’s mightiest mortals. However, over time, he became corrupted by his power until it is taken away from him by the Wizard who initially granted it to him. He has since managed to regain the power and in current comics continuity he is the benevolent dictator of the fictional country of Khandaq, working to atone for the evil he has done in the past.
The character originally had been slated to appear in this past spring’s Shazam! Film, but it was decided by the studio that his story was strong enough that he could appear in his own solo film first.
