New “Black Adam” Teaser Opens With a Nod to Batman, Superman & More

The new Black Adam teaser, titled “Legacy,” makes it case plainly from the start. That case is made by none other than Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), the black-ops antihero who led the other antiheroes of The Suicide Squad into battle (twice). “Before a world of heroes and villains, one power ruled it all.” As we hear Waller’s voiceover, what we’re seeing are glimpses of those heroes and villains—Batman’s throwing stars (known as Batarangs), Superman’s iconic red and blue suit, Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and even Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). These are the most recognizable DCEU characters of them all (missing a Joker here, a Flash there), but they’re actually predated, as far as the superhero lore goes, by Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam.

The new teaser offers a few glimpses of fresh footage while reminding us of the core details of Black Adam’s backstory. Born a slave, executed, and resurrected by his son’s sacrifice, Black Adam has been asleep for 5,000 years, until now. He’ll come into contact with the Justice Society, who initially (and misguidedly) attempt to negotiate his “peaceful surrender.” Good luck with that. As the man says himself, he’s not peaceful, and he doesn’t surrender. The Justice Society, comprised of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), will learn that while Black Adam doesn’t negotiate, he might just be the ally they need.

The teaser also reinforces how much of a burden Black Adam’s powers are. They were not bestowed through lineage or legacy or, in Batman’s case, via an unlimited supply of money and technological brilliance. They’re a curse, and Black Adam wields them with an incandescent rage at the evil and evil-adjacent alike. Just how he’ll fit into the larger DCEU (and his inevitable showdown with Shazam) remains to be seen. But we’ll find out soon enough—Black Adam finally hits theaters on October 21.

Check out the new teaser here:

For more on Black Adam, check out these stories:

Second “Black Adam” Trailer Reveals Dwayne Johnson’s Cursed Superhero

New “Black Adam” Sneak Peak Brings Out the Beast in Dwayne Johnson

First “Black Adam” Trailer Reveals Dwayne Johnson’s Epic Arrival In DCEU

Expect CinemaCon to Bring New Looks at “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Avatar 2,” “Black Adam” & More

Featured image: Caption: DWAYNE JOHNSON as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure “BLACK ADAM,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

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The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.