In the world of Hollywood, where power plays and strategic maneuvers are as common as popcorn at a movie premiere, a recent scoop confirms what many insiders had suspected: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had his sights set on taking over the DC Films universe.
Rumors had been swirling since the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, where whispers of Henry Cavill’s return to DC and Zack Snyder’s potential comeback were met with both excitement and skepticism. Fast forward to October of the same year, and Cavill’s appearance in the Black Adam post-credit scene added fuel to the fire, further igniting speculation about the future of DC’s cinematic universe.
But it wasn’t just Cavill and Snyder making headlines. Enter Dwayne Johnson, a force to be reckoned with both on and off the screen. Reports surfaced detailing Johnson’s desire to not only reinsert Superman into “Black Adam” but also to position his production company, Seven Bucks, at the helm of DC Films. The Wrap’s scathing report shed light on a pivotal meeting between Johnson, his business partner Dany Garcia, and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
According to insiders familiar with the meeting, Johnson and Garcia didn’t just aim to pitch their vision for the DC universe; they sought to replace then-DC Films chief Walter Hamada with their own leadership. However, their ambitions were swiftly met with resistance, as James Gunn and Peter Safran were appointed to steer the ship, leading to Johnson and Seven Bucks being ousted from their potential takeover.
What makes this revelation particularly intriguing is the behind-the-scenes tug-of-war over the direction of DC’s superhero roster. Reports suggest that Hamada’s reluctance to incorporate Henry Cavill’s Superman into the Black Adam storyline clashed with Johnson’s vision, prompting the latter to seek approval from higher-ups within Warner Bros. Films.
The aftermath of these power struggles left ripples throughout Hollywood, with Henry Cavill parting ways with Dany Garcia as his manager and signaling a shift in alliances within the industry.
As DC Films undergoes a reboot under the stewardship of James Gunn, the saga of Dwayne Johnson’s attempted takeover serves as a compelling chapter in the ongoing narrative of Hollywood politics. While the future of DC’s cinematic universe remains uncertain, one thing is clear: in Tinseltown, even the mightiest superheroes must navigate the treacherous waters of studio politics.
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Shobith C