Collider reports that Total Film magazine features a cover story on Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam in its latest issue. The magazine took to Twitter to share a look ahead to the film with some set photos. 

“There was always something unique about #BlackAdam” – we spoke to the @TheRock about @BlackAdamMovie for the new issue. Plus, check out three exclusive new images from the set of next year's massive DC movie https://t.co/VnOxLerrYc pic.twitter.com/lrxXdXGHRz

— Total Film (@totalfilm) December 7, 2021

There are no shots of the Justice Society just yet, but there are a number of different looks at Johnson in his costume as Black Adam, the dark version of Zachary Levi’s Shazam. In two of the images, Adam wears a dark cloak similar to what the old wizard in Shazam! wore. The third image looks to be during a battle scene. He is in his antihero wardrobe, donning no cloak, and a bluish color likely used for Black Adam’s lightning effects.

In the comics, Black Adam is a supervillain and Shazam’s greatest enemy. His character is being reframed as an antihero in the movies and his connection to Shazam doesn’t seem as connected. Black Adam was only briefly referenced in the first Shazam! movie. 

Little is known about Black Adam, Johnson only revealing small teasers like “the balance of power in the DC Universe is about to change,” or that “history is in the making” with the film’s production. He admits that he’d like to do more Black Adam films, so while this one seems stand-alone, it’s possible that he could become more interwoven with the rest of DC’s heroes and villains arcs.

Black Adam in the comics is Teth-Adam, an Egyptian slave who was gifted the powers of the wizard Shazam. He used them for revenge on his masters and various others who thought he deserved it. Shazam locked him away for centuries for abusing his power. In Shazam!, a brief reference to the event occurs when the wizard says that he once had a champion who misused his powers. Adam was not named and there was no follow-up to exactly what he did or how he stopped being the wizard’s champion.

In a teaser for the upcoming film, archaeologists, along with a military or mercenary backup team, arrive at a temple, not unlike the Rock of Eternity in Shazam!. They uncover an inscription and relay an incantation that includes the name of Shazam, and shortly after, Adam appears and rids of the soldiers who take aim at him.

Black Adam opens this summer on July 29, 2022.