DC’s latest Superman movie, which opened nationally on Friday, has garnered widespread attention for its box office preview, earning $22.5 million—the highest for any film so far this year. Interestingly, fans are crediting Dwayne Johnson’s underperforming Black Adam film for indirectly leading to this success, sparking a lively conversation about Johnson’s unexpected impact on the DC Universe’s new trajectory.
Behind the scenes in 2022, Johnson and his Seven Bucks Productions co-founder Dany Garcia reportedly met with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to discuss not only integrating Superman into Black Adam’s story, but also positioning their company to take over DC’s film division. However, this plan was ultimately scrapped when Johnson’s Black Adam received a poor reception, resulting in Warner Bros. hiring James Gunn and Peter Safran to take charge of DC Studios instead.
Fan Reactions Highlight Shift from Black Adam to James Gunn’s DC Vision
Following Superman’s positive reception—boasting an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes—enthusiastic DC fans have flooded social media with humorous and emotional tributes to Johnson’s role in reshaping the franchise’s direction. Many credited the disappointing Black Adam movie with forcing Warner Bros. to pivot away from Johnson’s vision, embracing Gunn’s creative leadership and the casting of David Corenswet as the new Superman.
One fan on the social platform X expressed,
“Just saw Superman … First and foremost, I want to say: Thank you Dwayne Johnson,”
capturing the widespread appreciation circulating online.
Another user added,
“Dwayne Johnson is the best thing to happen to DC. He was so bad we finally got the Superman movie we deserved.”
These messages conveyed the sentiment that the failure of Black Adam helped redirect DC toward a more promising future.
“When you think about it, we should all thank Dwayne Johnson. Because if it weren’t for him, we’d be stuck with his DCEU and wouldn’t have James Gunn, the DCU and David Corenswet as #Superman. So thank you Rock. The hierarchy of the DC Universe definitely changed … for the better.”
— Jeremy Irizarry, Film Commentator
The tone of these fan statements reflected both frustration at past missteps and optimism about the new creative leadership guiding the DC Universe’s reboot.
Superman’s Enthusiastic Reception Affirms New Direction for DC’s Cinematic Universe
Warner Bros. and DC Studios have capitalized on growing anticipation for Superman by offering early screenings exclusively for Amazon Prime subscribers, intensifying fan excitement ahead of the wide release. The movie’s strong preview box office performance and positive critical response underscore the effective revitalization of DC’s flagship characters under new management.
Remarking on the turnaround, one fan remarked,
“Superman was fire. I feel like I owe Dwayne Johnson a thank you letter for f–king over the DC Universe. We wouldn’t have gotten this peak Superman movie.”
Another post stated,
“I thank Dwayne Johnson for putting the final nail in the coffin of trainwreck DCEU with the Black Adam movie he’s been wanting for years and for paving the way for us to see this masterpiece. This movie is exactly what Superman needs in cinema. James Gunn really nailed it 💯.”
— Berkant, Twitter User
Industry Changes Sparked by Black Adam’s Reception and Leadership Shakeup
Johnson and Seven Bucks’ initial influence over DC Studios ended following the poor commercial performance of Black Adam, leading to a significant leadership overhaul. Warner Bros. Discovery’s appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran marked a fresh start for the studio, realigning creative priorities and broadening the universe’s storytelling possibilities.
This shift was noted to bring renewed hope to devoted DC fans who had endured years of inconsistent releases and leadership struggles. One viral social media post summarized the journey, stating it took
“almost 15 years, 20 flop movies, 5 studio heads, 3 reboots,”
and other challenges before the franchise finally rebounded.
Several fans expressed gratitude to Johnson for “sacrificing” his reputation through Black Adam’s failure, which, they suggest, cleared the path for the current creative team to succeed. A user remarked,
“Dwayne Johnson sacrificed himself so DC movies could be great again. Truly a generational talent.”
Why Fans Believe Black Adam’s Failure Benefited the DC Universe
Multiple voices on social media echoed the idea that Black Adam’s lackluster performance forced DC to reconsider their approach, ultimately enabling Gunn’s vision. One fan noted,
“Thank the lord Black Adam flopped, and thank you Dwayne Johnson for making it so. The hierarchy in the DC Universe did change… without you.”
— James Prescott, Superhero Enthusiast
Another highlighted,
“Ironically, the Rock’s Black Adam movie being so bad did fix DC and subsequently gave us the best Superman movie ever. So for that I say thank you Dwayne Johnson.”
Some fans also mentioned the absence of a follow-up to Black Adam’s mid-credits scene featuring Henry Cavill’s Superman as a missed opportunity. This neglect reportedly left audiences “hanging” for years, until the new Superman casting and film reboot were announced.
Looking Ahead: Dwayne Johnson Black Adam Impact on DC’s Future
The unexpected legacy of Johnson’s Black Adam performance lies in how it instigated Warner Bros. Discovery’s realignment of the DC Universe’s cinematic direction. While the movie itself did not meet expectations, it indirectly led to the appointment of James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have so far succeeded in reviving interest in DC’s heroes with fresh storytelling and casting choices.
Superman’s promising debut serves as evidence that the studio’s recent decisions may have lasting positive effects, reinvigorating the DC fan base and securing a brighter future for the franchise. The ongoing buzz around Superman and the new DC Universe suggests Johnson’s impact, though unconventional, has shaped a turning point for DC Studios.
