Chadwick Boseman firmly solidified his place within the pantheon of superhero movies through his role of King T’Challa a.k.a. the Black Panther. His performance as the Marvel Cinematic Universe character has been praised, and it’s arguably been valued even more since Boseman’s death in 2020. More recently, there have been rumors about T’Challa being recast for an upcoming MCU project, though that’s far from confirmed. A DC alum has since been linked to that chatter, and he has a take on someone succeeding Boseman.

The actor in question is Aldis Hodge, whose superhero-related roles include Carter Hall/Hawkman in Black Adam and John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated film Green Lantern: Beware My Power. As of late, Hodge’s name has been thrown into the mix when it comes to Black Panther recasting speculation. During a recent interview with 7PM in Brooklyn (which is on YouTube), Hodge was asked how he’d feel about possibly taking over for Chadwick Boseman. The actor called the situation “delicate” before saying:

Hodge is speaking nothing but facts here, in my humble opinion. In the event that someone else actually does take on the role of the T’Challa, they’ll have to be cognizant of the fact that they’re walking into something far bigger than themself. Stepping into those shoes would be quite a task, and not just from a performance standpoint. That’s because fans would surely have sky-high expectations due to the high standard Boseman set. Hodge also mentioned another factor that makes this potential recasting different from others:

So many fans still think of Chadwick Boseman fondly, and that affection also comes from those he worked with. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recently said having Boseman’s support as he worked on that film. Also, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recalled his final conversation with Boseman before his death, and it’s quite bittersweet in hindsight. So, I say all of this to say there’s a lot of emotional baggage surrounding this role.

As for whether T’Challa will actually be recast, that remains up in the air, though Black Panther franchise producer Nate Moore told CinemaBlend any kind of recasting would be “intentional” and not “cheap.” Rumors have also been swirling around actor Damson Idris, with reports suggesting he’ll play either a multiversal variant of T’Challa in Avengers: Doomsday. Idris has since laughed off the speculation, and Hodge also shared a funny take on whether he was up for the role:

Of course, that could always change, and Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios could decide to reach out. And, with the DC Extended Universe and DC Animated Universe continuities now done, this would be a prime time to scoop Hodge up. Still, regardless of whether he actually finds himself in contention for the role, I just appreciate how much thought he’s put into anyone following Chadwick Boseman’s panther-sized footsteps.

Right now, Letitia Wright’s Shuri is the protector of Wakanda, and fans can watch her in both Black Panther and its sequel, Wakanda Forever, which are streamable with a Disney+ subscription. Shuri and her fellow Wakandans will also return in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.

February got off to a strong start last week thanks to fun shows like The Muppet Show special and the return of The Lincoln Lawyer. There are still some great series and movies coming to streaming this month, including a great theatrical release you may have missed and one of the most successful (based on profitability) film franchises ever.

The Artful Dodger, Season 2 - February 10 (Disney+ & Hulu)

I’m going to be honest, I somehow missed that back in 2023, we got The Artful Dodger, a series about the Oliver Twist character that starred Thomas Brodie-Sangster in the title role with David Thewlis as Fagin. Now that I know it exists, I’ll be binging it ahead of the second season debut on this. You can watch it with a Disney+ subscription or a Hulu subscription.

Love is Blind, Season 10 - February 11 (Netflix)

Look, we’re not going to judge. You’ve been looking forward to Love is Blind Season 10 ever since the end of Love is Blind Season 9. It’s the reason you keep your Netflix subscription. We understand. We won’t tell anybody your guilty secret. Except don’t worry, I’m pretty sure everybody already knows.

Cross, Season 2 - February 11 (Prime Video)

There have been multiple attempts to turn James Patterson’s Alex Cross into a successful media franchise, but it looks like we’ve finally found one that’s a hit with audiences. Aldis Hodge is back in the second season of Cross. Alex Cross chases somebody targeting corrupt billionaires. Not sure who to root for in this one, but I’ll have my Prime Video subscription ready.

Eternity - February 13 (Apple TV)

Eternity was one of those movies you probably skipped in theaters, or that you went to see because rom-coms like it rarely get theatrical attention anymore. Either way, Eternity, which stars Elizabeth Olsen as a woman who dies and must choose to live her eternity in heaven with either her husband or her first love who died young, is a creative, funny, and heartfelt take on the genre.

Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip - February 13 (Netflix)

When the book is written about the history of successful movie franchises, a chapter will be given to the Madea movies. When the films were released in theaters, they always made a lot of money, and when Tyler Perry signed a deal with Netflix, the movies became just as successful there. In Joe’s College Road Trip, Perry returns as Madea, as well as Joe, Madea’s brother, who takes his grandson on a road trip to his new college.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Season 13 - February 15 (HBO Max)

It’s hard to believe that we’ve had 13 seasons of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. On the one hand, it doesn’t feel like he’s been on this show twice as long as he appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and yet the comedian’s hair indicates the show has been on the air since the Carter Administration. Whatever the truth is, you’ll be glad you have an HBO Max subscription this week when the Emmy-winning series returns.

The rest of February will bring back a slew of popular series to streaming, including Scrubs, Paradise, The Night Agent, and the rest of Bridgerton’s newest season. And there are likely to be a few surprises along the way.

One of Hollywood’s most dependable talents, Aldis Hodge has amassed many excellent performances in his career, and his turn as a literary detective in crime thriller Cross can certainly be counted among those. The Leverage vet is the third actor to portray Alex Cross following Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry, but the first to spend a full TV season inside the character’s world created by bestselling author James Patterson.

It’s no coincidence that all three are Black actors, with Patterson recently opening up about having to turn down an adaptation offer from studio execs who wanted to make Alex Cross a white character. (More on that below.)

It turns out Aldis Hodge caught wind of James Patterson's anecdote, telling Buzzfeed that he wasn't aware of it before the author divulged it in an interview. He then shared his response to learning about the author's staunch stance on making sure Alex Cross' live-action representation remained true to that core element of the beloved character when the show hit the 2024 TV schedule. In his words:

I have trouble believing Aldis Hodge would be capable of mishandling or dishonoring the role of Alex Cross. Even the character would be smart enough to realize how good Hodge is. His face just has a naturally contemplative look to it that dovetails nicely.

Not that the Straight Outta Compton vet is taking the credit for how Cross doesn't shy away from its racially charged storyline of a murdered BLM activist, while sidestepping the tropes that often come with the Hollywood-ification of such a story. Hodge credits creator and showrunner Ben Watkins for highlighting "all of the assets and facets of the Black community," and for doing it all in ways that are few and far between in the world of television.

Aldis Hodge continued to spread the love for those he worked with, saying:

Thankfully, fans don't even have to worry about Hodge having a shortened run in the role of Alex Cross. Cross is already confirmed to be remaining among the list of Prime Videos best shows, as it was renewed for Seaso 2 months before the first season debuted for those with Amazon Prime subscriptions. And Watkins told THR he's got a tentative four-season plan in mind, so as long as people keep watching, the crimes will continue.

James Patterson Dropped An F-Bomb When Asked To Whitewash Alex Cross

Back in mid-November, just after Cross hit Prime Video's streaming library, James Patterson spoke with THR about each of the live-action journeys his biggest character took in the past, and revealed that when he was first approached about allowing Alex Cross to get his own movie, he turned it down out of principle despite the fact that he really could have used the money at the time. Here's how he explained it:

Not all bestselling authors would have that same dedication to holding true to their characters origins, but Patterson talked about how much he based parts of Alex Cross' life on his upbringing in Newburgh, New York, where he spent time with the family of the Black chef who ran the kitchen in a restaurant that his grandparents owned. So to have that get taken away would be a detriment to both the the character and the memories that led to his creation.

All eight episodes of Cross are available to stream in full on Prime Video.

While not quite a household name just yet, Aldis Hodge is one of the most respected talents of his time, with scene-stealing roles in many great movies and TV shows alike, including in the title role of the new Amazon Prime original TV show, Cross. His road to leading man status has been a long one, having started his career when he was just a child. Let’s review trace the actor’s journey by reviewing some of his greatest hits, below.

Cross (2024-Present)

Starring: Aldis Hodge, Isaiah Mustafa

What it’s about: Widowed forensic psychologist Alex Cross uses his ability to get into the mind of a criminal to solve complicated cases.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge TV shows: As the star of the entertaining crime thriller, Cross, which is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription, Aldis Hodge became the third actor (after Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry) to portray the eponymous, iconic Black detective, who was created by author James Patterson.

How to watch Cross

• Stream Cross on Amazon

Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995)

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irons

What it’s about: Lt. Det. John McClane and Harlem shopkeeper Zeus Carver are forced to play a game of “Simon Says” to appease a German bomber terrorizing New York.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: An Aldis Hodge appearance you may have missed was his credited acting debut in one of the best ‘90s action movies, Die Hard with a Vengeance, as Zeus’ young nephew, Raymond.

How to watch Die Hard with a Vengeance

• Stream Die Hard with a Vengeance on Hulu
• Rent or buy Die Hard with a Vengeance on Amazon
• Buy Die Hard with a Vengeance on Blu-ray on Amazon

Leverage (2008-2012)

Starring: Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, Aldis Hodge

What it’s about: A team of skilled hackers and thieves offer their services to innocent people who have been wronged by the wealthy and corrupt.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Hodge’s first starring role on a series was as technologies specialist Alec Hardison on the fun TNT crime drama Leverage, which was briefly rebooted as the Freevee original, Leverage: Redemption.

How to watch Leverage

• Stream Leverage on Amazon Prime
• Buy Leverage on DVD on Amazon

Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Director: F. Gary Gray

Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., Aldis Hodge

What it’s about: The story of how gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A. came together, were torn apart, and changed the music industry forever.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: The actor stars as MC Ren in Straight Outta Compton, which is considered one of the best music biopics of its time for its stunning performances and wildly engaging dramatization of N.W.A.’s storied legacy.

How to watch Straight Outta Compton

• Stream Straight Outta Compton on Max
• Rent or buy Straight Outta Compton on Amazon
• Buy Straight Outta Compton on Blu-ray on Amazon

Hidden Figures (2016)

Director: Theodore Melfi

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe

What it’s about: Three mathematically gifted Black women are tasked with helping make sure young NASA recruit John Glenn has a safe trip into space in the 1960s.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Also one of Glen Powell’s best movies is Hidden FIgures – another acclaimed biopic featuring Hodge as civil rights activist Levi Jackson, who was married to Mary Jackson.

How to watch Hidden Figures

• Stream Hidden Figures on Peacock
• Rent or buy Hidden Figures on Amazon
• Buy Hidden Figures on Blu-ray on Amazon

Brian Banks (2018)

Director: Tom Shadyac

Starring: Aldis Hodge, Greg Kinnear, Sherri Shepherd

What it’s about: The true story of a Black aspiring NFL player who struggles to prove his innocence in a crime he did not commit and pursue his dream.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: An acclaimed sports biopic starring Hodge is Brian Banks, in which the actor gives one of his strongest and most inspiring performances in the title role.

How to watch Brian Banks

• Stream Brian Banks on Hulu
• Rent or buy Brian Banks on Amazon
• Buy Brian Banks on Blu-ray on Amazon

One Night In Miami... (2020)

Director: Regina King

Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr.

What it’s about: Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gather to discuss their roles in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Another film in which he delivers a stunning performance as a real-life football player (in this case Cleveland Browns fullback Jim Brown) is One Night in Miami… – a fictionalized account of one of the most important nights in civil rights history, based on writer Kemp Powers’ 2013 stage play.

How to watch One Night in Miami…

• Stream One Night in Miami… on Amazon Prime
• Buy One Night in Miami… on Blu-ray on Amazon

Underground (2016-2017)

Starring: Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett

What it’s about: The harrowing struggles of the pre-Civil War United States, as seen through the eyes of a group of slaves seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, Underground is a powerful historical drama in which the star plays a resourceful and freedom-hungry blacksmith named Noah.

How to watch Underground

• Stream Underground on Hulu
• Stream Underground on Tubi
• Buy Underground on DVD on Amazon

Clemency (2019)

Director: Chinonye Chukwu

Starring: Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, Danielle Brooks

What it’s about: A prison warden forms a bond with a young death row inmate that inspires her to reconsider her feelings about capital punishment.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Hodge starred as a man seeking freedom in another powerful drama called Clemency, which is also one of Danielle Brooks’ best movies.

How to watch Clemency

• Rent or buy Clemency on Amazon
• Buy Clemency on Blu-ray on Amazon

The Invisible Man (2020)

Director: Leigh Whannell

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge

What it’s about: After escaping her marriage to an abusive tech millionaire, a woman begins to suspect that her husband has figured out a way to continue taunting her without being seen.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Leigh Whannell crafts one of the most intense, frighteningly plausible, and simply best horror movie remakes of all time with The Invisible Man, in which Hodge plays a cop and friend of Elisabeth Moss’ character who comes to her aid.

How to watch The Invisible Man

• Stream The Invisible Man on Freevee through Amazon
• Buy The Invisible Man on Blu-ray on Amazon

City On A Hill (2019-2022)

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge

What it’s about: A Black assistant district attorney forms an unlikely alliance with a corrupt FBI agent while collaborating on a revolutionary case in 1990s Boston.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Once again, Hodge gives a wonderful performance in a historically significant series – in this case Showtime’s critically acclaimed period crime drama, City on a Hill.

How to watch City on a Hill

• Buy City on a Hill on Amazon
• Buy City on a Hill on Blu-ray on Amazon

Black Adam (2022)

Director: Jaume Collett-Serra

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge

What it’s about: Thousands of years after he was imbued with godly powers, a powerful warrior is awakened from his tomb.

Why it is one of the best Aldis Hodge movies: Hodge stars as Carter “Hawkman” Hall, who is enlisted, along with the rest of the Justice Society of America, to help contain the title character of Black Adam – a DC villain who becomes the hero of the story in this Dwayne Johnson movie.

How to watch Black Adam

• Stream Black Adam on Max
• Rent or buy Black Adam on Amazon
• Buy Black Adam on Blu-ray on Amazon

Aldis Hodge is currently working on a thriller called The Dutchman and an upcoming horror TV show called The Forever House. Until those are released, enjoy his best movies and TV shows so far!

Now that those with an Amazon Prime subscription can stream the brand-new adaptation of James Patterson’s popular Alex Cross books, the bestselling author is getting real about his thoughts on the previous iteration of the thriller novels starring Tyler Perry. In a recent interview, Patterson shared he thinks Perry was “screwed” by Alex Cross director Rob Cohen.

Tyler Perry took a break from the Madea movies in 2012 to star in an adaptation of James Patterson’s 2006 novel Cross to re-introduce audiences to the great Black detective character after Morgan Freeman previously played him in two films, 1997’s Kiss The Girls and 2001’s Along Came A Spider. Here’s what the author had to say as Aldis Hodge now takes up the role for the latest series on the 2024 TV schedule:

When Tyler Perry played the role in 2012, CinemaBlend gave the movie one out of five stars in our Alex Cross review, with Eric Eisenberg sharing it had a “ridiculous story,” and a “waste of talent” as well. The movie also earned an 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the audiences didn't like that much more, with the aggregator website having it a 47% on that side of things.

The movie also bombed at the box office, making just $34 million worldwide off a reported $35 million production budget. While Summit Entertainment had planned to make a sequel called Double Cross, its poor reception led to it being cancelled. During James Patterson’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the author also said this:

The Alex Cross director previously had made the first The Fast and the Furious movie, along with XXX and the third The Mummy movie with Brendan Fraser. James Patterson did not mince words regarding his thoughts on how Cohen handled the second iteration of his Cross books, but he certainly did not blame Tyler Perry for his performance. As he continued:

The latest adaptation of the Alex Cross books is poised to be a success for the material, as Season 1 has already landed as No. 1 in the United States for Prime Video, earned positive reviews from critics, and has already been renewed by the streamer for a second season. All eight episodes of Cross can be streamed now! You can check out what other upcoming book adaptations are on the way here on CinemaBlend. There are two other books of Patterson’s, Eruption and Run, Rose, Run, which are currently in development as well.

The slate of upcoming DCU movies and TV shows took a surprising turn in the wake of HBO’s wak-ing excellent The Penguin arriving to follow the story threads started in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. It appears James Gunn & Co. are interested in giving more villains their time in the spotlight, as Bane is reportedly getting a team-up movie with fellow fan-favorite rogue Deathstroke. It’ll be the third live-action iteration of the hulking character overall, and I’ve got casting ideas.

The most iconic Bane portrayal thus far of any medium obviously comes from The Dark Knight Rises, with Tom Hardy gifting fans with a solid performance on top of his infamous voice. On the non-animated front, Hardy’s villain was followed by Shane West’s arc as Eduardo “Bane” Durrance in Gotham’s final season. But who will step up to take on the role in the still-developing new movie?

Dave Bautista

A name that has long been at the top of fan-casting lists for Bane, Dave Bautista was just as into the idea of playing the villain as fans were. But no other applicable projects were happening for him to take advantage, and Bautista has since changed his tune about it, now considering himself to be too old to take on what could amount to a multi-film commitment.

But if it’s just a one-time outing, I don’t think Bautista could ever really age out of being a top-tier option. (Assuming his issue is with fan perception and not his own physical health.) Not only is he used to both stuntwork and dramatic acting, but he’s got a tight relationship with James Gunn from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies. No wrong moves here.

Laz Alonso

Considering Bane’s origin story stems from the Caribbean islands, if not legitimate ones, it would be awesome for the DCU movie to have that in mind when doing the casting. Which is part of why I think The Boys’ Laz Alonso, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, could serve up quite a solid and intimidating Bane performance.

Another big part of that thinking, of course, is that he’s already such a badass as The Boys protagonist Mothers Milk, and I always enjoy seeing actors take on characters at the opposite ends of the moral spectrum. I doubt he’d have to worry about any Batman villains attacking him with a prosthetic penis, in any case.

Édgar Ramírez

A Venezuelan actor who fluently speaks five different languages, Édgar Ramírez has proven himself to be an excellent addition to any cast or project, and more often than not has opted for above-average productions. (The less remembered about 2015’s Point Break, the better.)

While he hasn’t yet factored into any superhero projects, he’s familiar with blockbuster-scale efforts (Bright, Jungle Cruise), villainous roles (The Bourne Ultimatum, Wrath of the Titans) and genuine drama (Hands of Stone, Carlos). So I’m sure it wouldn’t be outside of his range to punch Nightwing in the face, for instance.

Aldis Hodge

With a career that started on Sesame Street, actor Aldis Hodge already knows his way around both live-action and animated DC projects. He starred as Hawkman alongside Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam and voiced John Stewart’s Green Lantern in two different animated DCEU movies. So it might be the…bane…of his existence for someone to come knocking to ask him to play yet another DC role.

However, one’s talent shouldn’t be overlooked for a new role just because that person was also good enough to land semi-related parts in the past as well. Plus, his father Aldis Basil Hodge and that side of the family hail from St.Thomas in the Virgin Islands, so there are ties to that side of Bane’s life.

Brian Cage

Sometimes it's not necessarily about having the most seasoned dramatic actor in a role, but about having the most physically intimidating specimen imaginable. Which is where professional wrestler Brian Cage enters the arena and subsequently smashes everything to smithereens.

Currently signed to AEW, Cage is a hulking behemoth no matter what he's wearing at any given moment. But while there are many wrestlers that could fit the Batman villain bill just based on size alone, Cage has actually wrestled in the ring multiple times dressed as Bane (once against a Jason Voorhees), and it's applicably perfect, even if he didn't break any of his opponents' backs.

Bad Bunny

If the casting call is seeking out "Caribbean performer who is young, internationally beloved, and previously signed on to be part of a superhero project that isn't happening anymore," then there's no better choice than Bad Bunny. And I know that's not what the casting call would say, but this suggestion is still relevant.

The Puerto Rican musician has sold millions of records, co-starred in Bullet Train, and even put his body on the line for WWE's 2022 Royal Rumble and 2023 Backlash ahead of what was supposed to be his Spidey-verse debut in El Muerto, before that project was yanked from the 2024 film schedule. So if he's already prone to getting jacked, he might as well do it to play Bane, right?

Michael Irby

To be sure, MIchael Irby is the kind of actor who isn’t necessarily always known for playing outsized threats who strike fear in those who stand before him. (Certainly not on Lopez vs. Lopez.) Even as Barry’s former mob boss Cristobal, he’s more calm and professional than frightening.

But his work across five seasons of Mayans M.C. made me want to see him taking on more roles in that (bulging bicep) vein where he gets to show off just how scary he can be when angry. Even if Bane’s mask would cover up the actor’s stellar mustache, his eyes would be more than enough to drive home how much he’d like to bend Batman over his knee. And bonus points if the DCU version of Bane loves motorcycles.

James Adomian

For those unaware, stand-up comedian and voice-acting extraordinaire James Adomian is the genius who legitimately turned Bane into one of TV's funniest animated characters via Max's Harley Quinn and its A+ spinoff Kite-Man: Hell Yeah! Even though the voice is basically just a fun parody of Tom Hardy's TDKR portrayal, it's still a perfect fit.

Do I think that Adomian is the perfect actor to play the role from a physical standpoint? Probably not, though I think a costume could sell that easily enough. But even if nobody wanted the comic to take handle the on-camera role, he could still provide the character's voice with someone else (like Brian Cage) serving as the hulking villain's body. Whic his howTwisted Metal handled Sweet Tooth's performance, splitting it between the on-set Samoa Joe and the in-the-vocal-booth Will Arnett.

Even if none of these castings end up happening, I'm still very hopeful that James Gunn and Peter Safran are set to deliver the goods when the DCU officially kicks off with Gunn's Superman, the animated Creature Commandos and other Chapter 1 projects.

It was not until Dev Patel tried his hand at writing and directing a feature film, Monkey Man, when he finally became the star of his own action movie. His turn as a man on a vengeful mission against corruption in the thriller, which is being likened to John Wick, is really a long time coming, since plenty of the Academy Award nominee’s credits have incorporated elements of the genre. Yet, the 2024 movie release marks the first time he has been the lead of this particular kind of film.

The former Skins cast member is not the only one who has the talent and the experience that warrants action movie stardom, but has yet to receive top billing for one. Hopefully, the following actors I have compiled below do not need to write or direct their own high-paced, thrill-a-minute blockbuster to cross that off their bucket list one day.

Alan Ritchson

At 6’2” and 230 pounds, Alan Ritchson was the perfect choice to lead the Amazon Prime original TV show, Reacher, and would be the perfect choice to lead any action franchise you throw at him. He may have nabbed a supporting role in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, but I am still waiting to see his face on the majority of a poster. Maybe another Jack Reacher movie, starring him this time?

Zoë Kravitz

Having appeared in multiple comic book movies (including X-Men first class), leading an intriguing, paranoia-fueled Neo-Noir (2022’s Kimi), and showing up in one of the greatest action movies of all time (2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road), it is only a matter of time when Zoë Kravitz plays the central hero of her own contribution to the genre. I actually would not mind if the action film she receives top-billing for saw her reprise her great Catwoman portrayal from The Batman in a spin-off. 

Zac Efron

It is actually hard to believe that, despite being one of Hollywood's most versatile leading men, Zac Efron has yet to headline an action movie. He has done pretty much everything else you could imagine — including musicals (his breakout role in Disney Channel’s High School Musical, of course), sports biopics (the acclaimed 2023 A24 movie, The Iron Claw), and even a “brutal” post-apocalyptic thriller (2022’s Gold) — so what is stopping him from kicking some ass?

Maika Monroe

Having starred in creepy modern classics like It Follows and Watcher, Maika Monroe is easily one of our most talented horror movie Scream Queens — a title she will continue to honor by leading the new, disturbing detective thriller, Longlegs. Could playing an FBI agent in that upcoming 2024 movie bring her one-step closer to fulfilling her action star destiny? Because, as far as I am concerned, she already proved she was worthy by developing a, sort of, “gruff badass” persona for her role in the 2015 alien invasion movie, The 5th Wave.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler proved he was a movie star with his Academy Award-nominated performance in Elvis, but that could not prepare audiences for his surprisingly intimidating turn as the ruthless Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two. It makes me wanna see how intimidating he could be as a hero, or even anti-hero similar to his role in the upcoming The Bikeriders, which looks pretty intense. Perhaps all these recent performances will get some action filmmaker’s attention soon. 

Zendaya

Speaking of Dune: Part Two cast members, the one who really steals the show in the second half of Denis Villeneuve’s Frank Herbert adaptation is Zendaya as Chani, who should be considered the true hero of the story if you understand the author’s true intentions with Paul Atreides’ arc. Of course, the Emmy-winning Euphoria cast member still, understandably, got second billing under Timothée Chalamet, but the powerful acting and stellar fight choreography she demonstrates in the sci-fi blockbuster absolutely warrants a grand-scale epic of her own.

LaKeith Stanfield

Here is another example of an actor who has shown astonishing versatility in his eclectic filmography so far — including some acclaimed comedies (such as Sorry to Bother You), some great horror movies (his scene-stealing Get Out role), and a mix of both (Disney’s Haunted Mansion). However, whenever Academy Award nominee LaKeith Stanfield has been cast in an action flick (namely The Girl in the Spider’s Web and Netflix’s original Western movie, The Harder They Fall), it has never been in the lead role.

Jamie Chung

Here is another example of an actor whose action-oriented roles have either been supporting parts in movies (such as The Man with the Iron Fists or The Misfits), stints on TV shows (such as 2008’s Samurai Girl or Fox’s Gifted), or even voice acting roles (like in Big Hero 6). Come to think of it, I think that Jamie Chung’s career as a whole thus far has been pretty underrated, so hopefully the chance to be the next great female action hero comes her way soon.

Aldis Hodge

Aldis Hodge actually has an interesting connection to the action genre, having starred in two Die Hard movies: Die Hard with a Vengeance and A Good Day to Die Hard — the latter of which marked his acting debut as a child. After putting that experience to good use with a portrayal of Hawkman that is the best thing about Black Adam, in my opinion, I am certainly hoping to see him soar higher in this realm, whether that means leading a superhero movie of his own or something more grounded.

Katy O'Brian

Am I the only one who takes one look at Katy O’Brian and sees an action movie star waiting to be born? Following her breakout film role in Love Lives Bleeding, the bodybuilder and Mandalorian actor is more than ready to lead something with a speedier pace on the big screen.

Bill Hader

I bet you did not expect a former SNL cast member to appear on this list, but I think Bill Hader might even be the most deserving one here. His role as a hitman seeking an acting career on Barry proved that he has some astonishing range, and his participation in the HBO series' more action-oriented sequences also shows he could do well in something like a grizzled detective role, a la John McClane.

Could any of these stars become the next Bruce Willis or Charlize Theron? Trigger fingers crossed.

DC has had a wild life in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. The DCEU is now in the rear view, with CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran crafting a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and the fans have been theorizing about upcoming DC movies. Fans are expecting some actors to play new roles, and Black Adam actor revealed another DC hero he'd be down to play sometime in the future. Are you listening, Mr. Gunn?

Aldis Hodge have a strong performance in Black Adam, which struggled at the box office. Those of us who have watched the DC movies in order were excited by the introduction of the JSA, but we'd ultimately only get one appearance by that group. While speaking with ComicBook, Hodge revealed another hero he'd be down to portray on the big screen, offering:

Well, I'm intrigued. Green Lantern has been a DC hero that has only been seen in live-action a few times, presumably thanks to the expensive nature of bringing the ring's constructs to life. And if the Corps. end up being explored in the new DCU, Aldis Hodge would be down to play fan favorite John Stewart. 

Gunn and Safran's plans for the Green Lantern Corps. remain a mystery for the time being, but the cast list of Superman: Legacy includes Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner. That's definitely a good sign, so hopefully we get a full-blown Lantern movie sometime in the future. 

With Black Adam, Aldis Hodge definitely proved he's got the acting chops and hulking physicality to play a DC hero on the big screen. Some fans want to see him replace Jonathan Majors as Kang in the MCU, since Majors was fired from the role. We'll just have to wait and see if Marvel or DC gets to the Invisible Man actor first. 

John Stewart is one of the most popular Green Lanterns of all time, thanks to his adventures on the page, video games, and (of course) the Justice League animated series. Fans have been not-so-patiently waiting for him to pop up in live-action, and Aldis Hodge would no doubt crush the role.

Hardcore DC fans will remember that Zack Snyder attempted to bring John Stewart to life in the Snyder Cut, filming a brief scene during its reshoots. Unfortunately, the studio put the kibosh on that concept, and that sequence instead featured Martian Manhunter. 

The DCU will launch with Superman: Legacy on July 11th, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam movie was, according to the actor, going to change the balance of power in the DC universe. Unfortunately, that didn’t exactly happen. Black Adam failed to take off at the box office, and Johnson himself has revealed there’s no place for his Black Adam in the new DCU, at least for right now. However, every movie has fans, and Black Adam is no different. In fact, even among those who didn’t love the movie overall, there are apparently many who would still love to see more from, if not Black Adam, then at least the Justice Society of America. 

A number of tweets have gone viral in recent weeks where many have suggested that the JSA was actually the best part of the Black Adam cast.  The team was made up of Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan's Dr. Fate, Quintessa Windell's Cyclone and Noah Centinio's Atom Smasher, all of whom were entirely new additions in Black Adam, which only included one member of the original Justice League in the Black Adam post-credits scene. While it seems likely they have suffered the same death as Black Adam himself, there are fans who would love to see more.  

 It was a somewhat strange setup with all these new heroes, which ended up being antagonists for the anti-hero Black Adam. It felt like there was a plan to make a new Justice League and just sort of soft reboot the superhero team in universe. But clearly the JSA struck a chord, as many fans thought the team worked and would like to see more. 

Of course, part of the problem was that all these new heroes had to share the screen with Black Adam, so there wasn’t a great deal of time to develop them. This meant that while we got bits of pieces of details about the characters and their relationships, there wasn’t much depth. At least one fan is wondering if Black Adam might have worked better as a straightforward superhero battle between the title character and the JSA. 

At this point, the new DCU Chapter 1 is moving forward, and while we don’t know with certainty that absolutely nothing from the previous universe will make the jump to the new one, it seems more and more unlikely with every passing day. As such, the return of the JSA is the longest of shots, even though there is clearly an audience for it… 

The JSA certainly aren’t the only things fans would love to see survive the DC Universe reboot. At this point, we’re not expecting new versions of these characters to appear on screen anytime soon, so maybe the return of the JSA as seen in Black Adam isn’t impossible.  

Actor Jonathan Majors' star power has been steadily growing for years. This year things seemed to hit new heights, as he starred as the antagonist of two back-to-back blockbusters Creed III and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. It's for this reason that the public was shocked after Majors was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment in NYC, and began seeing some professional setbacks as a result. Comic book fans are wondering what's going to happen with his ongoing tenure in the MCU, especially given his role in Loki Season 2 and the forthcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. And if it comes down to it, there are 5 actors I could see replacing Majors as Kang.

Over the past few years Marvel fans were promised that Kang would be the next Thanos-level threat to the shared universe, which is why Avengers 5 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies. The Lovecraft Country actor made a splash in Ant-Man 3 as well as the Loki Season 1 finale, which is why so many eyes are on how Majors' legal issues might affect the MCU. Majors ended up being found guilty for assault and harassment, and Marvel studios promptly parted ways with the actor. If they decide to recast, there are a few choice talents who could kill the role.

Aldis Hodge

This list has plenty of actors who are experienced with genre work and action sequences. After all, Kang is going to presumably be taking on all of the heroes currently in the MCU. Aldis Hodge is a talented actor who we've seen comfortably function within a comic book-based shared universe. While Black Adam ended up being a box office disappointment, audiences seemed to really connect with Hodge's take on Hawkman. Although with James Gunn and Peter Safran now co-CEOs and creating a new shared universe, it's unclear how the JSA will factor in. 

If Black Adam's team of heroes don't return to the DCU, it might open the door for Hodge to pivot to the Marvel side of things-- especially if the studio is looking for another talent for the role of Kang. It's a daunting role, we've been promised to see a seemingly endless supply of variants for the villain. But the 36 year-old actor has offered some acclaimed performances in projects like The Invisible Man, and I bet he'd be a killer Kang.  

Colman Domingo

This one isn't an idea that I came up with personally. While I'm a major fan of Colman Domingo in pretty much everything he's done, the internet has been buzzing with the idea of him possibly taking on the role of Kang. Domingo is rumored to be Marvel's first choice, and he's definitely got the acting chops to pull of playing multiple variants of Majors' former villain. 

While nothing has been confirmed just yet, Domingo previously voiced his interest in playing a comic book villain on the big screen. And given his acclaimed work in projects like The Color Purple, Fear The Walking Dead, and his Emmy-winning performance in Euphoria, he's certainly got the acting chops to pull it off. We'll just have to see if these rumors end up coming to fruition. 

John Boyega

Actor John Boyega became a household name when he debuted as Stormtrooper turned rebel Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He'll likely always be synonymous with the galaxy far, far away, but I'd love to see him involved in another major IP. And what better choice is there than the Marvel Cinematic Universe? I mean, unless Finn is finally going to become a Jedi. 

While there are currently rumors about Boyega returning to Star Wars in the Rey movie, I also think he'd be a perfect choice to play Kang the Conqueror. He's an extremely charismatic actor (case in point: The Woman King), and I would be fascinated to see what he would bring to different variants of the Marvel antagonist. And since he's already got a good relationship with Disney, it makes a great deal of sense for him to join the MCU eventually. Although for his part, Boyega had indicated he's not interested in taking on the role. 

O-T Fagbenle

Technically this actor already has a role in the MCU. The Handmaid's Tale star O-T Fagbenle played Natasha's friend/ love interest Rick Mason in Black Widow, but it was a fairly small role. But since Gemma Chan had a role in Captain Marvel before being cast as Sersi in Eternals, technically there is precedent and wiggle room for Fagbenle to get another role... specifically as Kang. 

While his role in Black Adam was fairly limited, the 42 year-old actor is an accomplished character actor who is genuinely a chameleon in various TV and film projects. It's because of this versatility that I think he could possibly replace Jonathan Majors as Kang-- especially since we're going to be introduced to a massive group of variants. Of course, this all depends on if Marvel ends up deciding to recast. For their part, neither the actor or studio have given any indication that this is happening. And Fagbenle is presumably busy with the final chapters of The Handmaid's Tale.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Here's is another epic choice for a possible replacement as Kang. Like many on this list, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has experience with genre work (although he's referred to it as clown work), with his career spanning both TV and film. He won an Emmy for his work on HBO's Watchmen series, where he played none other than Doctor Manhattan. Additionally, he had an ongoing part as Black Manta in the DC Universe. He first debuted as this character in James Wan's original Aquaman movie, and he's expected to reprise that role in the sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

On top of this superhero specific projects, Abdul-Mateen also did genre work in Nia DaCosta's acclaimed Candyman sequel. In both that movie and Aquaman he was able to flex some villainous muscles, which would be on full display if he replaced Jonathan Majors as Kang. We'll just have to wait and see what Marvel is planning. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

While most fans of DC’s cinematic universe are excited due to Black Adam bringing back Henry Cavill’s Superman, the film also introduced a number of a new heroes, including Aldis Hodge as Hawkman. While we don’t know wha t the future may hold for Hawkman, Hodge already left Black Adam with lastiing memories, specifically, the memory of trying not to clock Dwayne Johnson in the face.

A large part of Black Adam sees Hawkman and the Justice Society battling Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam, and Aldis Hodge tells THR that of everything that he went through in  the production, his big takeaway was that he never accidentally hit Dwayne Johnson ion the face. Hodge says using Hawkman’s trademark mace was so new to him he apparently aspent the whole time afraid he would accidentally swing the thing too close to the movie’s big star. Hodge explained… 

While Aldis Hodge says he had plenty of experience with both real fighting and stunt fighting, his experience was in hand-to-hand style. Using a weapon, like a mace, was something he had not done previously, and so he was afraid that he would misjudge the extra range the weapon gave him, and accidently hit the person he was swinging at, in this case, The Rock. 

Swinging a mace with full arm extension would certainly have the potential to hurt Dwayne Johnson if he hit him with it. Though considering the work The Rock put in for Black Adam, perhaps her would have just shaken it off. However, Hodge says actually hurting The Rock wasn’t his real concern. In this case, even scratching the man’s face would have been bad news, as it would have shut down the production for a time, and the Hawkman actor did not want to be responsible for that. He continues…

It sounds like the Hawkman wings were also a bit of a problem for Hodge. Hopefully, that doesn’t mean he’s unwilling to return as Hawkman. Even if we don’t see him again, or don’t seen him soon, he’s now had experience with that mace, so the next movie should be easier. 

Warning: SPOILERS for Black Adam are ahead!

Although Black Adam, the latest addition to the DC movies library, was primarily made up of new DC Extended Universe characters, there were a few familiar faces who stopped by. Namely, it was Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller who tasked the Justice Society with apprehending Dwayne Johnson’s title character, and after the main story concluded, Henry Cavill’s Superman paid a visit to Kahndaq in the Black Adam end-credits scene. But as it turns out, Aldis Hodge, who plays JSA leader Carter Hall/Hawkman, didn’t learn about either of those actors being involved in Black Adam until late into the game.

Let’s start with Henry Cavill, as Black Adam marked the actor’s first time playing Superman in half a decade (remember that the Man of Steel was portrayed by a body double in Shazam! and the Peacemaker Season 1 finale). While Cavill’s Black Adam scene wasn’t shot until September, just a month before the movie premiered to the masses, Hodge didn’t learn about Superman’s presence until “maybe a day or two before the premiere.” However, Hodge admires the great lengths that were taken to keep Cavill’s cameo a secret, telling THR:

So that accounts for Superman, but what about Amanda Waller? Well, remember that in Black Adam, the Task Force X leader we’ve previously seen in Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker only ever interacted with other characters over video calls. As such, it wasn’t until Black Adam was in reshoots that Aldis Hodge realized that David would be in the movie, having previously thought an appearance from her was no longer in the cards. He explained:

Aldis Hodge added that he and Viola Davis previously worked together on the short-lived TV show City of Angels when he was “12 or 14 years old,” so although these two never actually reunite in person for Black Adam, it was “awesome” for him to “share the screen with her again in something of this magnitude.” It’s also worth remembering that Black Adam included Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt as Amanda Waller’s representative when the Justice Society brought the depowered Teth-Adam to that Task Force X black site. Emilia was introduced as a minor character in The Suicide Squad and later became one of Peacemaker’s leading protagonists.

If you’re a fan of Henry Cavill’s Superman and/or Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, the good news is we’ll be seeing more of them in the DCEU post-Black Adam. Cavill confirmed that this movie is “just a very small taste of things to come,” and along with Dwayne Johnson promising there will come a day when Black Adam and Superman fight on the big screen, it’s been reported that Warner Bros. wants to move forward with another Cavill-led Superman movie. As for Davis, there’s reportedly an Amanda Waller series in the works for HBO Max subscribers that Watchmen’s Christal Henry will write and executive produce.

Black Adam is still playing in theaters, but if you already caught it and have your gaze pointed to the future, then browse through the lineup of upcoming DC movies.

Warning: SPOILERS for Black Adam are present in this discussion. Consider this a friendly warning if you’re concerned with avoiding spoilers. 

We’re still in the thick of Black Adam mania here, folks. Dwayne Johnson’s big new movie release is plugging away as the latest offering from the DC universe of cinema, and there’s certainly a lot to talk about. I’m not just talking about Henry Cavill’s big return as Superman either, as there are quite a few moments that seem to have stuck out in director Jaume Collet-Serra’s anti-hero epic.

Strangely enough, one such aspect that stuck out for me was a moment that saw one particular plot point borrowing from the MCU playbook, and it’s absolutely not a problem. In fact, the way that Black Adam uses a sticking point from the Avengers movies stood out as a highlight in the entire movie. Those trying to avoid spoilers should turn away, as I’m going to spill some secrets about a specific scene and why it works so well.

The MCU Moment Black Adam Stole For Its Third Act

Throughout Black Adam’s scenes dealing with the Justice Society of America, we get the impression that Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan) isn’t exactly telling the whole truth about his apocalyptic visions of the future. Having hinted that Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) will have to die in order for the battle against the evil Sabbac (Marwan Kenzari) to be won, Brosnan’s Kent Nelson assures Carter Hall that when the time is right, he’ll know it’s their big goodbye.

You’re probably thinking that sounds familiar, right? Well, I wouldn’t blame you, as this is almost exactly the same playbook that Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) follow throughout Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. With the MCU’s own magical doctor scanning the continuum of outcomes against Thanos (Josh Brolin), Stephen Strange warns Tony Stark that there’s only one outcome that assures victory. 

Cryptically telling Tony that he’ll know what that moment is when it happens, it’s almost exactly like the path we see taking hold in Black Adam. Except there are some crucial differences that see Doctor Fate differing drastically from Doctor Strange. Most importantly, it’s Doctor Fate who ends up taking the fall in the end.  

How Doctor Fate’s Demise Spins Doctor Strange’s Prediction In Avengers: Infinity War

Rather than have Hawkman sacrificing himself in Black Adam, Doctor Fate conceals the fact that there’s another option in play. Hiding the knowledge that there’s another option is just as potent as hiding who exactly is going to die. Kent Nelson’s actions track with Stephen Strange's in the respect that if he shares the future in bold print, it will inspire our hero to try to alter the outcome.

That’s where the similarities end though. In the two-part Avengers epic, Tony Stark being kept in the dark so that his tendency to try and think his way out of any scenario is kept at bay. It’s basically a fail safe against the egoism he still holds within, even if he’s a wiser, more family-driven person at this point in his life. Not to mention, this may not have even been necessary had we not been party to one of Doctor Strange’s worst MCU decisions. You know, the one where Strange just gave up the Time Stone to Thanos!

Hawkman isn’t the same sort of thinker when it comes to Black Adam’s big events, as Carter Hall is ready to lay down his life for his team. Kent Nelson knows this, and so by hiding the truth from the Justice Society of America's leader, he’s allowed to control the plan. Doctor Fate dies so that the friend he trusts can lead his team more effectively, which is part of what makes this decision a story beat I’m ok with. Also, he didn’t self-sabotage the plan in the process, and that’s always a good thing to see in a hero’s decision-making process.

Why I’m Ok With Black Adam Remixing This MCU Heartbreak

Shielding his team, and making the final sacrifice to aid in Black Adam defeating Sabbac, Doctor Fate’s actions look relatively more heroic. Not that Doctor Strange wasn’t doing what had to be done himself in Avengers: Infinity War, but he basically admitted in that cryptic moment with Iron Man that he was going to die. That sort of thinking convinced me that Black Adam was going to pull a similar move for some time, up until Kent Nelson finally gave up his helmet in service of the world.

Remixing the idea of a soothsaying hero calling the big shot to save the day is one of the parts about Black Adam that actually worked for me. Though I’d only seen the Justice Society of America on screen for a few moments, Doctor Fate’s actions hammered home the camaraderie of the team to a tee. Then again, it also helps that Pierce Brosnan’s natural charisma helped everything gel in the way that it did.

I know not everyone’s going to agree with me that cribbing an emotional beat straight from an MCU movie is a good thing, and I’m even surprised I’m saying it myself. However, with the tweaks presented and the moral/ethical questions it raised, Black Adam’s huge emotional twist used shorthand thinking to its advantage. Setting and dashing expectations in one fell swoop, it’s made me want to see the Justice Society of America in action again.

Those of you who need to think on this matter a little more, or have read through these Black Adam spoilers without having seen the film, are in luck. Dwayne Johnson’s hierarchy-altering DC Comics movie is still running in theaters and is expected to have a healthy second weekend out. 

Or, if you’re looking for more DC Universe thrills in the world of streaming, you’ll want to make sure you still have an active HBO Max subscription. Everything from animation to live-action films and series, and eventually Black Adam itself, will be kept here for your viewing pleasure.

Needless to say that with a movie called Black Adam, the chief purpose is for the title character played by Dwayne Johnson to shine brightest, and this was certainly accomplished. However, the latest addition to the DC movies library is also notable for featuring the Justice Society of America, which was introduced to 1940, making it the comic book medium’s first superhero team. The JSA has previously been seen in live-action in Smallville, Legends of Tomorrow and Stargirl, but Black Adam marks its theatrical debut, meaning this is the first time a lot of people are learning about the team.

For Black Adam, the Justice Society consisted of Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan’s Doctor Fate, Quintessa Swindell’s Cyclone and Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher. As a longtime JSA fan (I read their Golden Age stories as a kid and enjoyed the JSA and Justice Society of America comic book series that ran back-to-back from 1999 to 2011), I was jazzed to see this property finally get its due on the big screen, but walking out of Black Adam, I had mixed feelings about how these four characters were handled. So let’s go over how this 2022 movie release did rightly and wrongly by each Justice Society member.

Black Adam SPOILERS are ahead!

Hawkman

What Black Adam got right: Right off the bat, Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman costume looks tremendous. While I might’ve gone for a splattering of green rather than red, the golden armor, mask and wings constructed from Nth metal make the character look like he was peeled right off a comic book page, along with the mace and shield he wielded in battle. Hodge also did a great job portraying Hawkman as the Justice Society’s leader, who goes way back with Doctor Fate and is ready to show Atom Smasher and Cyclone the ropes of protecting the innocent. 

What Black Adam got wrong: Hawkman is never one to shy away from a fight, and rightly so. However, he was treated like too much of a punching bag in Black Adam. Obviously Dwayne Johnson’s character significantly overpowered Carter Hall, but it would have been nice to see the winged superhero either get in a few more decent blows against Teth-Adam or at least not get tossed around as much in comparison to his teammates. More importantly, I was bothered that absolutely none of Hawkman’s backstory was explored in Black Adam. I realize the character has a convoluted history in the comics, but moviegoers could have easily been tipped off to how Carter has reincarnated many times over the millennia stretching back to ancient Egypt. Then this could be explored more in-depth in a Black Adam sequel or a Justice Society spinoff movie.

Doctor Fate

What Black Adam got right: I won’t mince words, Pierce Brosnan gives Black Adam’s best performance. The James Bond actor excelled at playing Kent Nelson, a.k.a. Doctor Fate, a magic-conjuring superhero who’s walked the Earth for a century and struggles with seeing potential futures regularly play out before him. Fate’s spells looked amazing, the helmet looked badass without the traditional eyeholes and Kent’s death in the climactic conflict was one of Black Adam’s most emotionally resonant moments. Fortunately, Dwayne Johnson said on Twitter that we’ll see more of Fate in upcoming DC movies, although he didn’t clarify whether this means more Brosnan (which is never a bad thing) or someone else will inherit the mantle.

What Black Adam got wrong: My main gripe with Doctor Fate in Black Adam doesn’t concern Pierce Brosnan’s Kent Nelson, but rather his helmet. In the comics, the Helmet of Fate is so much more than the tool from which Kent Nelson and the other individuals who’ve been Doctor Fate draw their powers. It also contains the spirit of Nabu, the Lord of Order who mentored Kent, but has also been shown to be ruthless in his conflict against the Lords of Chaos, to the point he even once took complete control over Kent’s body and mind. I don’t think Black Adam should have gone that far, but it would have been interesting to see Kent push back against Nabu’s cold-blooded tendencies.

Cyclone

What Black Adam got right: It would have been was enough to show Maxine Hunkel’s wind powers in a more conventional manner, but thankfully, Black Adam thought outside the box when bringing its Cyclone to life. The green and purple from Cyclone’s costume melding with the wind and sound currents she controlled was a dazzling display. Quintessa Swindell also effectively captured the enthusiasm of a young woman who’s just getting started in the superhero game and eager to show what’s capable of, and it was good to see that the DCEU’s Maxine is highly intelligent like her comic book counterpart.

What Black Adam got wrong: My issue with Cyclone in Black Adam is the same one I have with Atom Smasher: outside of their powers and basic personality quirks, there’s no dimension to these characters. In Cyclone’s case, her enthusiasm could have been kicked up a few notches; not to the point where she was annoying, but it would have been endearing to watch her geek out about getting to be part of the Justice Society. Black Adam also would have benefitted from shedding a little more light on the circumstances surrounding how Maxine got her powers and how she deals with that traumatic experience.

Atom Smasher

What Black Adam got right: While Black Adam taking creative liberties with Cyclone’s costume paid off, the movie’s team made the right call crafting a faithful Atom Smasher suit for Noah Centineo. Black Adam also nailed Albert Rothstein’s size-increasing ability, and the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae was Henry Winkler cameoing as Al Pratt, better known in the comics as the Golden Age Atom and Albert’s godfather. In this reality, Al is Albert’s uncle and was the first Atom Smasher.

What Black Adam got wrong:  As I said in the previous section, there’s really no dimension to Atom Smasher in Black Adam. He’s there to become massive, throw some punches, accidentally knock some things over in his gargantuan form and snack afterwards to regain energy. At the very least, the movie should have actually explored Albert looking to honor his uncle’s legacy as the new Atom Smasher. Also, in the comics, Black Adam and Atom Smasher started off as rivals before forming a brotherly relationship. Since there’s only so much to accomplish in a movie runtime, I didn’t expect Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam and Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher to form that deep a relationship, but had they been able to face off against each other, maybe a little more begrudging respect could have been established.

Though Black Adam has received more negative reviews from professional critics than positive ones, Dwayne Johnson has touted how much audiences love the latest DC movie, which has made over $150 million worldwide at the time of this writing. Now that we’ve covered the Justice Society, read through our breakdown of Superman appearing in the Black Adam end-credits scene.

Fans have been excited about Black Adam for a long time, but possibly not as long as the movie’s star, Dwayne Johnson. The actor confirmed his casting as the anti-hero in 2014, but his expressed interest in the character dates way back in 2007. The rigorous training began in 2020, and finally, FINALLY the next chapter of DC Movies is upon us. With atom smasher-sized expectations at the box office, Black Adam will show the titular character freed after thousands of years of imprisonment, with the Justice Society called in to try to neutralize him. Critics have screened the movie ahead of its October 21 release, and unfortunately, it looks like they aren't too pleased.

Alongside Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Quintessa Swindell and Noah Centineo star as the members of the Justice Society, and director Jaume Collet-Serra brings his background in both horror and action/adventure. First reactions to Black Adam were mixed, with some viewers raving that The Rock ushers in a new DCEU era, while others criticized the “dull CGI.” Now that their full reviews are out, we can expand what we know about Dwayne Johnson’s blockbuster, and we’ll start with CinemaBlend’s review of Black Adam. Eric Eisenberg rates the movie 2.5 stars out of 5, saying it struggles to stand out in a crowded genre and is underwhelming, despite some interesting ideas: 

For more from CinemaBlend, you can also check out Managing Editor Sean O’Connell’s spoiler-free video review of Black Adam.

Mike Ryan of Uproxx agrees with Eric Eisenberg that there’s potential in the movie, but says it’s ultimately disappointing. The critic argues that choosing to keep the title character so stoic strips away all of Dwayne Johnson’s charisma, saying: 

Matt Singer of ScreenCrush also wonders why such a charming actor would feel so passionate about playing a one-dimensional character. He rates the movie 4 out of 10, saying this one wasn’t worth the wait: 

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap says Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam is “stiff,” and by the time he develops a sense of humor late in the film, it’s too late. But of all the letdowns it has to offer, the visuals may be the worst offender. More from the review: 

That critic wasn’t the only one to comment on the visuals. Witney Seibold of SlashFilm rates it 3.5 out of 10, calling it a jumbled mess of a movie that feels like it wants us to anticipate what project comes next rather than enjoy this one. The filmmakers fail to establish a mood or stakes for the fights that have to happen, he says: 

David Ehrlich of IndieWire notes, as other critics have, that one of Black Adam’s main issues is that Dwayne Johnson and all involved aren’t willing to let the main character be all that bad. He grades the movie a D+, saying: 

If you’ve been excited for this movie for a long time, or if you’re a fan of DC or Dwayne Johnson in general, less-than-stellar reviews aren’t likely to keep you planning a trip to the theater. If you’re still game for this one, Black Adam will be released in theaters on Friday, October 21. 

In the meantime, be sure to check out CinemaBlend’s interviews with the Black Adam cast, including Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Aldis Hodge and more. See what’s next for The Rock, as well as all of the action that’s in store for the DCEU with a look at our list of upcoming DC movies. 

A good way for an actor to start out is by making a guest appearance on a TV crime procedural series like Bones — the Emmy-nominated show starring Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz that ran for 12 seasons on Fox. In fact, the fun, clever, and romantic drama inspired by the life of forensic pathologist Kathy Reichs was an early credit, or even first credit, for many actors before really making a name for themselves. Take a look at the 18 actors below and see if you remember when they crossed paths with Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Agent Seeley Booth.

Michael B. Jordan (Perry Wilson)

Before becoming one of the most popular and respected actors of his generation with stellar performances in Fruitvale Station, the Creed movies, and Black Panther as one of the MCU’s most memorable villains, Michael B. Jordan was best known for television roles of varying magnitude, such as the time he was guest star on House. Earlier than that, however, he appeared on Season 5 of Bones as a young man who encounters Booth’s protective side when he starts dating Camille Saroyan’s (Tamara Taylor) adoptive daughter, Michelle (Tiffany Hines).

Jaimie Alexander (Molly Briggs)

Another Marvel movies star who guested on Bones just a few years before playing Lady Sif in the Thor franchise was Jaimie Alexander. In the Season 4 episode “The Beaver in the Otter,” Brennan and Booth eventually learn her character knows more than she would let on about the body of a fellow college student found inside the school mascot uniform.

Sean Gunn (Dr. Howard Fitch)

Yet another Marvel movie veteran with a Bones episode on his resume is Sean Gunn, who plays both Kraglin and provides the motion capture for Rocket Raccoon in his brother James’ Guardians of the Galaxy films. Actually, Gunn had already completed his stint in the Gilmore Girls cast and made his MCU debut when he a made a small appearance as a forensic science convention attendee in the crime procedural’s tenth season.

Jennifer Holland (Nicole Twist)

Another actor with both personal and professional connections to James Gunn is his real-life romantic partner and Peacemaker cast member Jennifer Holland. In 2011, the former model also had a brief role on a Season 6 episode of Bones as the sole social media friend of a recent murder victim, with whom she had suffered a falling out regarding a counterfeit handbag.

Aldis Hodge (Jimmy Merton)

Speaking of DCEU actors, Black Adam cast member Aldis Hodge is also known for the TNT series Leverage, Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man, and the Oscar nominated movie, One Night in Miami…, to name few. He also starred on the first season of Bones as a military veteran still struggling to overcome painful memories when he is questioned by Booth and Brennan about the death of his former comrade.

Laz Alonso (George Warren)

Speaking of comic book adaptation stars, Laz Alonso is best known today for taking out corrupt supes as Mother’s Milk on Amazon Prime’s hit series based on Garth Ennis' The Boys. Years earlier, he appeared on Bones Season 1 as the brother of a woman whose mummified remains were found, along with a bag of methamphetamines, by Brennan inside the wall of a night club.

Giancarlo Esposito (Richard Benoit)

Speaking of The Boys cast members, Emmy nominee Giancarlo Esposito is also known for many other legendary (and very sinister) roles in TV series like Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian. One of his lesser-known (but still pretty sinister) TV characters is that of a New Orleans voodoo shop owner who threatens to curse Brennan when she suspects him of murder in Season 1 of Bones.

Aaron Paul (Stew Ellis)

Speaking of Breaking Bad cast members, three-time Emmy-winning Jesse Pinkman actor Aaron Paul just happened to appear on the first season of Bones before he was cast on the hit AMC series as well. He played a comic book store owner whom Brennan and Booth confront about the murder of a teen who was so obsessed with superheroes that he tried to become one.

Dean Norris (Don Timmons)

Aaron Paul’s Breaking Bad co-star and DEA Agent Hank Schrader actor, Dean Norris, also appeared on Bones — and not just once, but two times. In Season 4, he played the owner of a pitbull who may have been responsible for the death of his own veterinarian, and would return in the uncredited and unrelated role of a court juror in the following season.

Michael Cudlitz (Lucky)

Speaking of actors from hit AMC shows, Michael Cudlitz would join The Walking Dead cast in Season 4 as military veteran Abraham Ford, which is just about his best-known role to date. Years before then, he had a guest spot on Bones Season 3 as the operator of a lodge where people indulge in a unique form a sexual role play involving one person pretending to be a horse and the other their “rider.”

Kyle Gallner (Jeremy Farrell)

In addition to a very brief stint on The Walking Dead (one episode), Kyle Gallner is a bit of an underrated Scream King for his appearances in Jennifer’s Body and the fifth installment of the Scream movies from 2022, most notably. However, his role on the Bones Season 2 episode “The Girl with the Curl” as the older brother of a 9-year-old beauty pageant star harboring a dark secret was not particularly scary, albeit a bit upsetting.

Theo Rossi (Nick Arno)

Theo Rossi of Sons of Anarchy cast and Luke Cage fame dealt with a very different kind of zombie horde when he was cast in Army of the Dead — writer and director Zack Snyder’s Netflix original action-horror flick that was set in a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. Coincidentally, the actor also appeared on a Season 2 Bones episode that took place in Sin City, playing the owner of a fight club that Brennan and Booth infiltrate by posing as a couple.

Indira Varma (Inspector Cate Pritchard)

There are also members of the Star Wars universe who have made appearances on Bones — such as Obi-Wan Kenobi cast member Indira Varma, who played Tala Durith on the Disney+ original limited series. The actor played a Scotland Yard inspector  whom Brennan refers to as the “British version of Booth” while working a case together in a 2008 two-part episode set in the United Kingdom.

Jordan Fisher (Ian Johnson)

While he was already well on his way to securing himself as one of his generation’s most exceptional, multi-talented young performers, actor, singer, dancer, and Work It star Jordan Fisher got to put his best talents on display when he appeared on Bones. In a Season 11 episode that is easily one of the more musical of the whole series (not to mention how Pentatonix stars Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying also guest star), Fisher plays a member of collegiate a cappella group whose leader is found dead.

Justina Machado (Lupe Rojas)

Also known for busting some epic dancing moves (particularly with her successful stint on Dancing with the Stars) is Netflix’s One Day at a Time star Justina Machado, who had previously had a major role on HBO’s Six Feet Under. In between, she appeared on a Season 6 Bones episode as the ex-girlfriend of a man who was found dead in a cave along with the woman he left her for, which automatically makes her a prime suspect in the case.

Ariel Winter (Liza)

Fellow sitcom star Ariel Winter (who played Alex Dunphy in the Modern Family cast for 11 seasons) also has a recurring voice role on Disney Channel’s animated series, Elena of Avalor, in common with Justina Machado, in addition to both guest starring on Bones episodes. Actually, the then-8-year-old also appeared alongside Kyle Gallner in the aforementioned Season 2 episode “The Girl with the Curl” as a young dancer.

Taylor Kinney (Jimmy Fields)

Also known for playing a solder in the Oscar-winning 2013 film, Zero Dark Thirty, Taylor Kinney is best known from his recurring role on The Vampire Diaries cast and on Chicago Fire as regular character Kelly Severide. Before any of these credits came about, the actor played a collegiate basketball player whose hot-shot teammate is found dead underneath the gym bleachers on a Season 3 episode of Bones.

Ryan Michelle Bathe (Erin Miller)

Speaking of NBC drama stars, Ryan Michelle Bathe had a memorable recurring role alongside her real-life husband, Sterling K. Brown, in the This is Us cast before becoming the heroic lead of The Endgame cast in 2022. Much earlier, she had a guest appearance on Bones in a Season 4 episode as a woman with a “Cleopatra haircut” who serves as the estate lawyer to a family whose recently deceased loved one is discovered by Brennan to have been murdered when she attends his funeral. 

How many of these guest appearances by Hollywood’s soon-to-be stars rang a bell for you? If you still feel the need to refresh your memory by revisiting these episodes, you can stream Bones on Hulu, or stream Bones on Amazon's Freevee app for free, now.

Although Green Lantern Corps member John Stewart has existed in the DC Comics mythology for 50 years, the character got a major popularity boost through the 2000s animated DC TV shows Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, where he was voiced by Phil LaMarr. John has popped in a handful of projects since then, including a scrapped cameo for Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but arguably the Green Lantern’s next biggest platform to shine on is nearly here. The animated DC movie Green Lantern: Beware My Power stars Black Adam’s Aldis Hodge as John Stewart, and supervising producer Butch Lukic spoke with CinemaBlend about why the actor was such a good fit for the role.

Ahead of him starring as Hawkman, leader of the Justice Society of America, in Black Adam, DC fans will hear Aldis Hodge as John Stewart in Green Lantern: Beware My Power, which premieres tomorrow, July 22, at San Diego Comic-Con at 6:30 pm PT in Ballroom 20. During my conversation with Butch Lukic, I asked what special quality Hodge had that made him feel like he was the right choice to play John. The producer answered:

Green Lantern: Beware My Power is the latest voiceover gig for Aldis Hodge, with his other credits in this field including Happy Feet, A.T.O.M. and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. As Butch Lukic explained, Hodge hit a nice balance between making sure this version of John Stewart felt warm, but was also convincing when it was time for the character to get tough. Beware My Power arrives three months ahead of the actor’s performance in Black Adam, which co-stars Dwayne Johnson, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Quintessa Swindell and Sarah Shahi.

Butch Lukic wasn’t the only person who liked what Aldis Hodge brought to the table as John Stewart. I also had the opportunity to speak with Green Lantern: Beware My Power’s writers about Hodge’s performance. First off, Ernie Altbacker, whose many other DC credits include Green Lantern: The Animated Series and the Doctor Who-inspired Constantine: The House of Mystery, had this to say:

Then there’s John Semper, who, along with his extensive work on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, also wrote for Phil LaMarr’s John Stewart on Static Shock. Semper voiced his thoughts about Aldis Hodge’s John Stewart performance, and what the rest of the cast delivered, as follows:

Set in the same continuity as Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Justice Society: World War II and Batman: The Long Halloween, Green Lantern: Beware My Power follows John Stewart, a recently discharged Marine sniper, inheriting a Green Lantern power ring and being thrust into a war between Rann and Thanagar that also involves the Sinestro Corps. Aldis Hodge is joined in the Beware My Power cast by Jimmi Simpson as Green Arrow, Jamie Gray Hyder as Hawkgirl, Brian Bloom as Adam Strange, Rick D. Wasserman as Sinestro, Ike Amadi as Martian Manhunter and Keesha Sharp as Vixen, among others. Jeff Wamester directed the feature.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will released Green Lantern: Beware My Power to the public on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital on Tuesday, July 26. Looking to later in the year, the fully CGI Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons will be released on October 18, 2022.

John Stewart, one of Earth’s many Green Lanterns, has existed in the DC Comics mythology for over 50 years, but his popularity skyrocketed in the 2000s through Phil LaMarr’s portrayal in the animated DC TV shows Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Years later, arguably John’s next biggest platform outside of the comics is almost here, with Black Adam star Aldis Hodge voicing the character in Green Lantern: Beware My Power. This upcoming animated DC movie delivers an origin story for Hodge’s John, and CinemaBlend has an exclusive clip showing him getting the hang of using his power ring.

As those who’ve seen the Green Lantern: Beware My Power trailer know, within this shared DC continuity, that followed on the heels of the DC Animated Movie Universe, the Green Lantern Corps has been wiped out. You’ll need to watch the movie for yourself to learn the specifics of how officers of this intergalactic law enforcement organizations, including Hal Jordan, were defeated, but Aldis Hodge’s John Stewart now finds himself in a difficult situation. Not only is unexpectedly been given a power ring letting him channel the emerald energy of willpower and has to embark on a mission into space soon after, he’s unable to go through the standard training typical for new Green Lantern recruits. 

Fortunately, as shown in the clip, John Stewart finds a manual within the ring, including a video game-style exercise program that’s part of Green Lantern Corps training. It’s not the same as drill sergeant Kilowog putting newbies through the wringer, but hey, it’s something! While Jimmi Simpson’s Green Arrow points out that John wanted to get rid of the ring earlier in Green Lantern: Beware My Power, circumstances have changed, and it’s up to John to transport the two of them and Jamie Gray Hyder’s Hawkgirl to a corner of the galaxy that’s likely a war zone. As such, it doesn’t hurt to go in with a little extra preparation.

The events of Green Lantern: Beware My Power see John Stewart having to team up with Green Arrow, Hawkgirl and Brian Bloom’s Adam Strange to journey into the heart of a Rann/Thanagar war, and they’ll also have to contend with the Sinestro Corps along the way. Beware My Power’s voice cast also includes Ike Amadi as Martian Manhunter, Keesha Sharp as Vixen, Rick D. Wasserman as Sinestro, Mara Junot as Lyssa Drak & Bantha Dar, Jason J. Lewis as Ganthet & Captain Kantus, Simon Templeman as Sardath & Consol Voice, Sunil Malhotra as Power Ring & Rannian Commander, and Nolan North providing additional voices. Jeff Wamester directed the feature, and John Semper and Ernie Altbacker wrote the script together.

Following its world premiere at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 22 at 6:30 pm PT in Ballroom 20, Green Lantern: Beware My Power will be released to the public by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Tuesday, July 26 on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital. Keep your eyes peeled on CinemaBlend for news concerning all sorts of upcoming DC movies.

Wayne T. Carr’s scene as John Stewart, a.k.a. Green Lantern, may not have been included in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (it was decided to feature Martian Manhunter in his place instead), but the DC Comics character will soon get another chance to shine outside of the comics. Green Lantern: Beware My Power, the first animated Green Lantern movie since 2011’s Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, is coming out this summer, and it features Black Adam actor Aldis Hodge as John, along with a collection of other popular DC Comics heroes and villains, as you’ll see in the Beware My Power trailer.

Ahead of making his live-action superhero debut as the ripped Hawkman, a member of the Justice Society of America, in Black Adam, Aldis Hodge will be heard as John Stewart in Green Lantern: Beware My Power, which is set in the same continuity as Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Justice Society: World War II and the two-part Batman: The Long Halloween adaptation. Hodge’s John is a recently discharged Marine sniper who inherits an extraterrestrial ring allowing him to fly and create constructs by channeling willpower. However, John isn’t the first human Green Lantern in this universe, as his predecessor, Hal Jordan, died alongside millions of Thanagarians after the Oan security net was disabled. As Earth’s new Green Lantern, John quickly finds himself thrust into the heart of a galactic Rann/Thanagar war, and he’ll also come into conflict with the Sinestro Corps, who channel the yellow energy of fear.

Fortunately, John Stewart won’t have to deal with all this alone. Along with the return of Ike Amati’s Martian Manhunter, who previously appeared in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Green Lantern: Beware My Power features the superhero lineup of Jimmi Simpson as Green Arrow, Brian Bloom as Adam Strange, Jamie Gray Hyde as Hawkgirl and Keesha Sharp as Vixen. The animated DC movie’s cast also includes Mara Junot as Lyssa Drak & Banth Dar, Jason J. Lewis as Ganthet & Captain Kantus, Simon Templeman as Sardath & Console Voice, Rick D. Wasserman as Sinestro, Sunil Malhotra as Power Ring and Rannian Commander, as well as additional voices provided by Nolan North. Beware My Power is directed by Justice Society: World War II’s Jeff Wamester, and Static Shock’s John Semper and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War’s Ernie Altbacker wrote the script.

John Stewart debuted in the pages of December 1971/January 1972’s Green Lantern #87 from writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams, but his popularity skyrocketed when he was chosen to be the main Green Lantern in the early-mid 2000s animated shows Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, where he was voiced by Phil LaMarr. Among the character’s other animated appearances include Roger Cross voicing him in the DC Animated Movie Universe timeline, and John is also expected to co-lead the live-action Green Lantern Corps reboot alongside Hal Jordan, although there have been no major updates on that upcoming DC movie in a long time. So if you’ve been looking for John to be spotlighted in something new outside of the comics, Green Lantern: Beware My Power has you covered, and as a result, Aldis Hodge gets to leave his mark on two DC fronts this year.

Green Lantern: Beware My Power comes out on 4K, Blu-ray and Digital on July 26 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Those of you looking for more DC animated content can find all sorts of film and TV offerings with an HBO Max subscription.

The DC Extended Universe has hit its stride over the past few years, with projects like The Suicide Squad performing well critically. One highly anticipated blockbuster coming down the line is Dwayne Johnson’s long-awaited Black Adam. And a producer is making Aldis Hodge’s character Hawkman sound like a total badass.

While Black Adam is titled after Dwayne Johnson’s character, he won’t be the only superpowered individual in the upcoming DC flick. The antihero will be facing off against the Justice Society of America, including Hawkman played by Invisible Man’s Aldis Hodge. Producer Hiram Garcia recently spoke to his work as the iconic winged hero, saying:

Well, I’m definitely interested. Director Jaume Collet-Serra assembled a killer cast to join The Rock in Black Adam, and each member of the JSA will bring a different set of powers to the action. As for Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman, it seems he’s going to go toe to toe with Dwayne Johnson’s character in a big way.

Hiram Garcia’s comments to CBR help to show just how much of an ensemble project Black Adam will end up being. Talent like Aldis Hodge were brought onto the project for a reason, and not simply to serve as a support to Dwayne Johnson. Other notable names include Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate and Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher. And Garcia thinks the cast totally hit out of the park for the mysterious blockbuster.

Dwayne Johnson was attached to Black Adam for a number of years, so the project finally approaching theaters is definitely a thrilling update. Fans were treated to a few precious seconds of footage, which seems to tease just how deadly The Rock’s antihero is going to be. While the movie is rated PG-13 Hiram Garcia also teased the bodycount that’s going to occur throughout the origin story.

From the looks of it, Black Adam could end up an extremely important character in the overall DC Extended Universe. Following his solo movie, fans are expecting Dwayne Johnson to face off against Zachary Levi’s Shazam in a crossover event. After that, there’s no telling who Black Adam might interact with on the big screen.

Black Adam is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 29th, 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

While the future of the DC expanded universe is still a little a little cloudy, there's one particular corner of it that seems to be moving forward quite well. Following the success of Shazam! that film is getting a direct sequel as well as an apparent prequel in Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam. While we expect some of these characters to likely clash on screen at some point in the future, the two films are already doing battle on the driving range. And The Rock wants to be sure that team Black Adam represents.

Aldis Hodge, who will play the role of Hawkman in the upcoming Black Adam movie, recently shared on Instagram that he and Shazam! actor Zachary Levi met up at a Top Golf location somewhere to hang out and hit some golf balls. It looks like the pair had a lot of fun. Based on a comment on Levi's Instagram it sounds like Hodge had the better night of the two. While the game was probably quite friendly, one person who is apparently taking it all very seriously is Dwayne Johnson.

In a comment on Aldis Hodge's Instagram post, The Rock makes it clear that when Hodge is out there he is representing team Black Adam then The Rock expects him to win at all times. Dwayne Johnson's comment reads...

I do not pretend to be an expert on all things Hawkman, but now I'm interested in seeing the Hawk Cruiser come to life. Dwayne Johnson is clearly just having some fun too. I'm not sure he actually expects Aldis Hodge to be the better haiku poet. Of course, now I sort of want to see Zachary Levi and Aldis Hodge write haiku poetry just to see what they come up with.

Black Adam is finally in production after being a project in development for about as long as the modern DC universe has been a thing. We have yet to see even a single image of Aldis Hodge in full Hawkman garb, though we have seen that he has been putting in the workout required to play a superhero on the big screen.

Black Adam was briefly referenced, though not by name, as a man who had been given the power of Shazam prior to Billy Batson in the Shazam! movie. The impression is that the power was ultimately used for ill rather than good. However, the impression that we're getting from Dwayne Johnson is that Black Adam will see his character as anti-hero, or perhaps one who uses extreme measures to try and do good, rather than a full-on villain. We'll find out when the movie arrives next summer.

Will we see a cooking or haiku battle between these two before then? We can only hope.

Recently, it was announced that a biopic covering the life of late comedian Bernie Mac has been put into the works, with John Legend acting as the producer. While it’s too early to tell who’ll play The Original Kings of Comedy and Ocean’s Trilogy icon, there are a couple distinct possibilities that have been mentioned. Both suggestions have come from none other than Mac's daughter, Je'Niece McCullough, and they’re absolutely dynamite suggestions that could gather steam.

As she spoke with TMZ about the upcoming Bernie Mac biopic, Je'Niece dropped two names for consideration: One Night In Miami star Aldis Hodge and YouTube comedian Mark Phillips. In McCullough’s opinion, Hodge would make the perfect actor to play Mac in his adult years, while Phillips is her choice for the younger piece of the story. What makes these choices exciting is not only do both feel like fantastic choices for this still-developing project, according to McCullough, her mother/the head of Bernie Mac’s estate, Rhonda McCullough, also approves of both options.

Looking at both Aldis Hodge and Mark Phillips, the possibilities are already pretty spectacular. Hodge in particular has been recently gathering steam in his career, with Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man also adding to his rising star power. Plus, the experiences on several biopics like Hidden Figures, Straight Outta Compton, and director Regina King’s One Night in Miami have already established Hodge’s credentials as an actor familiar with what that type of film requires. So having Mr. Hodge playing the later years of Bernie Mac’s life is half of the puzzle solved right there.

And then there’s Mark Phillips, the YouTube star who, according to this interview, has reminded Je'Niece McCullough of the comedic energy that her own father gave off. Earmarking him as the younger Bernie Mac for this new film, there was even a video shared along with the remarks that McCullough had given on the record. After watching the clip included below, it’s hard not to agree with that possibility as well:

Dying unexpectedly in 2008 due to complications from pneumonia, Bernie Mac left behind a legacy of comedy that was sharp, but warm. Writing several books and making an impact in the world of movies and television while he could, his special brand of laughter is never going to be easy to recapture. But if Ja’Niece and Rhonda McCullough are confident enough in their choices, that could bode well for both actors in the near future.

As John Legend is building this project with Rhonda McCullough, the opinions of both Rhonda and Ja’niece are pretty crucial to how this untitled film moves forward. With Aldis Hodge and Mark Phillips getting an early start over the competition, there’s a chance they could go the distance. But, of course, that depends on how things move forward with the project at large. In the meantime, 2021’s movie schedule is as clear as it can be, ready for audiences to find their next source of laughter.

It has been a long time coming, but filming on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s DC comic book movie Black Adam has finally started! It’s pretty much a given that the actors involved are excited about the progress the film has made after so much time has passed since it was announced, and he knew the ball was rolling on the project as he began seriously preparing for the film at the beginning of last year. Johnson isn’t the only cast member pumped for filming to start though - his co-star Aldis Hodge, who plays Hawkman, is also pretty happy about getting to work.

Black Adam marks the theatrical debut of Hawkman, and the actor taking up the role, Aldis Hodge, has taken to social media to show just how pumped he is to get started in his on screen portrayal of the hero. (Though it's worth noting he’s been preparing for a while.) In his Instagram post we see his trailer door with Hawkman written on it, and he captures the moment for Day 1 of filming. It's not exactly a costume, but were you expecting spoilers on Day 1?!

Clearly, Aldis Hodge’s caption is all pumped up and full of energy -- it’s game time and he’s ready. His energy is matched by his co-star Dwayne Johnson, who comments on Hodge’s posts with some simple, yet equally game ready words. Here’s what he says:

These simple words follow a lightning bolt and hawk emoji, symbolizing the heroes he and Aldis Hodge’s are portraying in Black Adam. It may seem like Dwayne Johnson doesn’t have much to say here, but actually his short response to the post seems to hold a lot behind it.

The Rock has been waiting a long time to bring Black Adam to life on the big screen. The actor has been attached to the role since as early 2007, but the film really started to gain steam in 2017, around the time we were also learning of the specific plans for the Shazam! film. In fact, though the role has taken on a few forms since we first heard the actor could be involved in the DC role in some capacity.

It wasn’t long ago that Dwayne Johnson was thought to appear as Black Adam in Shazam!, which I mean would make a lot of sense seeing as Black Adam is the main antagonist of the hero. However, it was decided that the two comic book characters needed their own storytelling spaces and would have their own films. The introduction of Black Adam with his own movie, though, did give the DC universe a chance to give Hawkman his entrance as well - and that could look pretty awesome.

The years it took to get here don’t really matter anymore though, because the time has come to get The Rock and Aldis Hodge in costume for their big debuts, and the two stars seem to be pretty pumped up about it, and rightly so! Hopefully that energy will last the entire filming season, because it’s one we definitely want to translate on screen.

Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam has been a project on Warner Bros. list of priorities since before many of the DC movies that have actually been released. We knew he was working on something for DC as far back as 2014. But now, after so many years, that movie is finally going to truly go into production. The cast is being filled out, as Pierce Brosnan was recently announced as joining the cast as Dr. Fate. But other members of the supporting cast like Aldis Hodge have been hard at work for months; the actor who will be Hawkman recently showed off his hard work, and it's impressive.

Even Dwayne Johnson, who is perpetually in amazing shape, has been working hard to bring something extra special to Black Adam. So Aldis Hodge certainly was going to need to hit the gym in order to get in Hawkman shape. The actor recently took to social media to say that, while the work has been hard, he loves it overall, and there's not much else to say except the dude is ripped. Check it out.

This part of Hawkman prep is certainly tougher than the other prep Aldis Hodge has been doing in recent months: reading comic books. Still, he's doing a ton of work to prepare for playing Hawkman. Clearly Hodge hasn't been skimping on the workouts based on this image. We've seen many actors go through this sort of transformation for superhero roles. While many actors keep themselves in fairly decent shape, this is another level of workout that only those like Dwayne Johnson keep up on a regular basis. But once they do it, many seem to fall in love with it-- and Hodge looks no different here.

It's good that Aldis Hodge is almost where he needs to be to play Hawkman, as he's set to go in front of cameras very soon. The most recent news on Black Adam is that filming will start sometime this month. The movie was given an official release date of July 2022 just a few days ago. The announcement was made in the sort of epic fashion that we've all come to accept from Dwayne Johnson.

While it's unclear exactly what the plan is for Dwayne Johnson's character after Black Adam, the expectation is that the character will be back. Traditionally Black Adam is a foe to Shazam, who has already been introduced to DC's cinematic universe. Black Adam the movie comes out a year before the sequel to Shazam!, Fury of the Gods. It's possible we could see Black Adam again as early as that, or perhaps more likely, Fury of the Gods and Black Adam together will set up a confrontation (or possibly a team up?) somewhere down the road.

It is hard not to recognize Aldis Hodge these days. The star of director Regina King’s Amazon Prime original film, One Night in Miami, in which he plays football legend Jim Brown, seemed to earn a spot in Hollywood’s A-list overnight, and just recently. However, in reality, the multi-talented actor has spent much of his life in the business.\

From his scene-stealing starring role on the hit TNT series Leverage, star-making supporting turn in The Invisible Man, and acclaimed performance opposite Kevin Bacon in Showtime’s historical miniseries City on a Hill, it really is no wonder how the 34-year-old North Carolina native got the part of Hawkman in the upcoming Black Adam movie. Of course, like many other actors, Aldis Hodge came from humble beginnings, making small appearances in films and TV shows as a child, through his teens, and beyond, until becoming the sought-after talent he is today.

I imagine you are probably wondering where you might have seen Aldis Hodge pop up on the screen without even realizing it at the time. Well, I can help refresh your memory with 10 of the actor’s lesser-known roles on the big and small screen, below, starting with his truly explosive feature film debut.

Die Hard With A Vengeance (Raymond)

How many actors can say they played Samuel L. Jackson’s nephew in their very first movie? Aldis Hodge can, having appeared opposite the Oscar-nominee in 1995’s Die Hard with a Vengeance at 9 years old, in a scene before Jackson reluctantly becomes Bruce Willis’ partner against a terrorist bomber. Coincidentally, Hodge would appear in the action franchise’s fifth installment, A Good Day to Die Hard, but it might be a lost cause to find some canonical connection between the two roles.

Big Momma’s House (Basketball Teen #2)

Fun fact: Aldis Hodge’s brother, Edwin, also made his acting debut in Die Hard with a Vengeance before appearing in films like The Purge: Election Year, TV shows like Mayans M.C., and upcoming projects like The Tomorrow War. The siblings got to share the screen together again in 2000’s Big Momma’s House as a couple of young B-ball players challenged to a game by an undercover Martin Lawrence in drag.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Masked Teen)

Aldis Hodge and his brother also have roles in the Whedonverse in common. Edwin played Charles Gunn’s cousin Keenan on a 2000 episode of the David Boreanaz-led Angel, Aldis appeared a year earlier on the original series it is spun off from, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He plays an unnamed teenager whose plan to use his demon-like costume put Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular heroine in better spirits on Halloween until it backfires painfully for him.

Supernatural (Jake Talley)

Years after playing a boy pretending to be a demon on Buffy, Aldis Hodge played a man actually given powers by a demon on Supernatural, in the series' Season 2, two-part finale. His character was initially an innocent soldier with mental manipulation powers, but suffered a tragic end after the yellow-eyed demon, Azazel, forced him into unleashing the Apocalypse.

Private Practice (Esau Ajawke)

Another one of Aldis Hodge's more emotional TV guest appearances comes from Season 3 of Private Practice - a spin-off from Grey's Anatomy. He plays a man who is diagnosed with tuberculosis and, as a result, faces deportation back to his home country of Kenya... right as his fiancée is about to give birth to their son.

ER (Brad Enloe/Young Man)

Private Practice was not the site of Aldis Hodge's first guest appearance on a medical drama, or even the second. Both of those spots would occur on ER, first in 1998 as a 12-year-old former leukemia patient admitted to Country General with just a sore throat, and secondly in 2003 as a teenager part of a group of insurgents holding Dr. Luka Kovac (Goran Visnjic) hostage in the Congo.

Happy Feet (Various)

Aldis Hodge has also found success as a voice actor, such as in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Cartoon Network's Mad, or The Proud Family on Disney Channel. However, he was most busy behind the mic when he lent his voice to Happy Feet, George Miller's Oscar-winning tale of singing and dancing penguins, as a multitude of characters without names.

The Walking Dead (Mike)

For a while, no name was given to Aldis Hodge's character in The Walking Dead (which was not actually played by him at the time) until the ninth episode of its fourth season, in which much of the group is forced by the Governor's heinous attack to flee the prison. Michonne (Danai Gurira) begins to have terrifying visions from her past, revealing that her two armless, defanged Walker pets were once her boyfriend, Mike (Hodge), and his best friend Terry (Brandon Fobbs).

Cold Case (Mason “Runner” Tucker)

Of course, The Walking Dead was not the first TV series to see Aldis Hodge play a person in a flashback. That would come in 2003, on the first of season of Cold Case, in which he played a drug addict nicknamed "The Runner" circa 1973 - the year in which he would regrettably murder his friend, a cop, who had discovered he was abusing a young girl.

Friday Night Lights (Ray “Voodoo” Tatum)

Of course, Cold Case was not even the most notable time Aldis Hodge played a man with flashy nickname on a TV shows. That would come from his six-episode stint on the first season of Friday Night Lights as "Voodoo" - a Louisiana-born, 18-year-old quarterback who transfers to Texas to play football for the Dillon Panthers after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.

For an actor who came from humble beginnings, I would say that Aldis Hodge was given a treasure trove of opportunities to build his acting craft from the start with such an impressive variety of roles that range from quick and fun to super heavy. It is clearly visible that it has all paid off if his casting as a founding member of the Justice Society of America is any proof. For even further proof of Hodge's acting ability, or the chance to to keep up with his work, you are guaranteed to find that and more here on CinemaBlend.

The DC Extended Universe has had a unique life since its inception, full of peaks and valleys. And while Wonder Woman 1984 was only recently released on both HBO Max and in theaters, there are a number of highly anticipated projects coming down the line. Chief among them is Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson, a villain-centric blockbuster that has been in the works for years. The cast includes a number of heroes from the Justice Society of America, including Aldis Hodge's Hawkman. And now we can see what the Invisible Man actor might look like in the role thanks to awesome fan art.

Development for Black Adam is finally kicking up, with filming hopefully beginning sooner rather than later. In addition to finally meeting Dwayne Johnson's hulking title character, hardcore comic fans are also eager to see the heroes of the movie-- especially Hawkman. And while moviegoers wait for the official costume design, a piece of fan art can help satiate fans. Check it out below.

I mean, how cool is that? Hawkman is no doubt going to be a visually striking presence in Black Adam, thanks to his signature wings. And if Aldis Hodge ends up looking anything like this piece of fan art, he's going to be certifiably badass.

The above image comes to us from the Twitter of digital artist Boss Logic. They've amassed a following on social media for bringing fan theories to life, or with digital renderings that celebrate casting news. The image of Aldis Hodge as Hawkman is no exception, and we get an added treat by seeing the character both with and without his signature mask.

Black Adam, like many future Warner Bros. movies, is expected to arrive on HBO Max same day as its release. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

The image of Aldis Hodge's Hawkman is fairly accurate to the comic books, which no doubt thrill the purists out there who are eager for a glimpse into Black Adam's design. It's currently unclear if the DCEU version of the character will have this type of look, but Hodge could pull it off if need be. After all, he's got the physique to rock a superhero costume with so little fabric.

On top of wearing Hawkman's harness and wings, Aldis Hodge can also be seen holding the character's signature weapon: his Thanagarian mace. Made of Nth Metal, this is usually the primary tool of Hawkman and Hawkwoman on both the page and screen. Fans are eager to see this adapted in a live-action movie, especially if the hero uses it to battle Black Adam himself.

The other JSA heroes that have been confirmed for Black Adam are Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. While obviously the movie will be primarily focused on Dwayne Johnson's character, it'll no doubt be thrilling to see him go toe-to-toe with a trio of heroes. We'll just have to see if heroes like Hawkman end up making another appearance in the DCEU.

Black Adam is expected to finally begin filming this spring. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

In recent years, Black Adam’s Aldis Hodge has been a rising star in film and television. His roles have increased in prominence as he moved from project to project. Hodge’s most high-profile role to date was being tapped to play the iconic DC Comics character Hawkman in the DC film Black Adam alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The actor spoke on how The Rock has already inspired his version of Hawkman.

Aldis Hodge was interviewed by Variety about his growing acting resume along with other activities he has going on. The interview delved into his role as activist and actor Jim Brown in Regina King’s One Night in Miami before turning to his other high-profile role. Hodge has been preparing to play Hawkman opposite The Rock’s Black Adam since his casting was announced last year. The actor went on to explain how his Black Adam co-star is inspiring his take on the iconic DC character.

Given The Rock’s Instagram gym selfies are no joke, Aldis Hodge was motivated (not deterred) by his co-star’s physical training. That pushes him to step up his effort for the superhero film. Aside from perfecting his physique, Hodge’s casting was a moment for the character. It signaled the DC film would tap into Hawkman’s African roots.

With Aldis Hodge set to play Hawkman, other actors announced for Black Adam include Netflix stars Quintessa Swindell and Noah Centineo as Cyclone and Atom Smasher, respectively. The film is expected to begin production this Spring with no current release date. While he prepares to film Black Adam, his role as Jim Brown in One Night in Miami is currently garnering the actor award season buzz. His roles in One Night in Miami and Black Adam capped off a wonderful year in the actor’s career. He starred in the hit psychological thriller Invisible Man with Elizabeth Moss and the Disney+ film Magic Camp with Adam Devine.

It’s nice to see Aldis Hodge being motivated by The Rock’s physical training rather than competing with his co-star or giving up. By the time filming starts, his physique will be in peak condition for the DC film. You currently check out Hodge’s acclaimed performance in One Night in Miami on Prime Video

After appearing in some of the most acclaimed films and TV series of the past few years, Aldis Hodge is quickly becoming one of the most sought after talents in Hollywood. To that, all I have to say is, “It is about time,” considering the actor, one of the four main protagonists of One Night in Miami, has been in the game longer than many of his biggest fans may even be realize.

In fact, I would be willing to bet that very few audiences are aware of the true number of times they have seen the 34-year-old, North Carolina-born and New York-raised artist on screen. Perhaps they recall his role as a cop struggling to understand what he cannot see in The Invisible Man, but do they remember that he played MC Ren in Straight Outta Compton? Not to mention, for everybody who enjoyed him as tech wizard Alec Hardison on Leverage, how many of them also remember when he appeared on six episodes of Friday Night Lights as Ray “Voodoo” Tatum?

There is plenty more than what meets the eye with Aldis Hodge, which I am more than happy to reveal below. The following are six lesser-known facts, hidden talents, and other fascinating bits of trivia that every fan of the One Night in Miami star should know, beginning with a glimpse at his childhood

Aldis Hodge Was Raised By US Marine Corps Veterans

He has been a natural fit in the role of an Army member in several projects (including the 2005 satire American Dreamz, as real-life World War II veteran Edward Carter on the docuseries Medal of Honor, and Captain Anthony Espin in the 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back). Thus, it is no surprise that Aldis Hodge actually does comes from a military family.

In 2019, Hodge spoke to NPR about how his parents met each other in the Marine Corps and that he was born while they were still in the service. He added that his mother's disciplinary parenting, as a result, had a profound effect on his approach to education and in his acting career. It goes without saying that his brother can relate.

Aldis Hodge And His Brother, Edwin, Made Their Film Debuts Together In Die Hard With A Vengeance

Acting is a passion that Aldis Hodge shares with his older brother Edwin Hodge, who has also played military personnel (such as in 2018's Bumblebee and on the History Channel series Six) and is part of the Blumhouse family after appearing in two installments of The Purge franchise. The siblings, who are just one year apart, can even share the same movie as each other's big screen debut - and big one, it certainly was.

When he was 9, Aldis played young Harlemite Raymond, whose uncle Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) becomes the reluctant aid to John McClane (Bruce Willis) against a vengeful bomber (Jeremy Irons) in Die Hard with a Vengeance. Edwin has a smaller role in the 1995 sequel as a student whose school is suspected to be under attack from said terrorist. However, it was Aldis who appeared in the action franchise again as a different character, supposedly, in A Good Day to Die Hard from 2013.

Aldis Hodge Was Committed To Match Jim Brown’s Voice For One Night In Miami

With an acting career as as extensive as his, one might think that nailing any performance just comes naturally to Aldis Hodge. However, the actor is never one take shortcuts with a role and his portrayal of Jim Brown in Oscar-winner Regina King's feature-length directorial debut One Night in Miami is certainly no exception.

When promoting the dramatized Civil Rights era period piece, based on screenwriter Kemp Powers' original play, Hodge spoke to Entertainment Tonight about his research on the Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, emphasizing on attention to nailing his voice. He would play recordings of Jim Brown speaking over and over to make sure he incorporate the same "['60s-style] sort of energy" into his performance as authentically as possible.

Aldis Hodge Dove Right Into The Comics To Research His Hawkman Role

Aldis Hodge's devotion to authenticity still applies to characters who are not even real people. Of course, for this particular role, the man has plenty of source material to take note of.

You should probably know by now that Hodge was recently cast in Black Adam, opposite Dwayne Johnson, as fellow founding member of the Justice Society of America Carter Hall, better known as the mystical, flying warrior Hawkman. The actor followed up the news by posting a photo to his Instagram of many comic books featuring his upcoming DC movie character with the caption "Weekend homework."

Outside Of Acting, Aldis Hodge Is A Self-Taught Watchmaker

While others might balk at the thought of "weekend homework," Aldis Hodge seems like the kind of person who always likes to stay busy. Thankfully, he has plenty of other handy skills to keep himself occupied when he is not in front of the camera, such as painting and another vastly different form of art.

If you thought Hodge's technical skills on Leverage was just part of his character, think again. Since his youth, the man has been an active, self-taught engineer and horologist - which in layman's terms, is one who designs and constructs watches. In fact, he even launched his own brand of luxury timepieces aptly named "A. Hodge."

He Has Been Reevaluating His Relationship With The Industry

Aldis Hodge has gone on record about how society's expectations of him as a person of color would influence his self-made transformation into a jack-of-all-trades. He also commented on how deeply it has influenced the roles he chooses, especially in recent years. During an interview with NPR while promoting the 2019 Showtime miniseries City on a Hill Hodge explained this even further in the following excerpt:

With all the stories black actors have told of their early struggles in Hollywood, forced to portray a stereotype on a repeated basis, it truly is inspiring to see Hodge refuse such a career and go on to achieve the success is he is known for today. With a DC movie on the way, scripts of his own invention in the works, and watchmaking business, he has nowhere else to go but up.

What do you think? Is Aldis Hodge the sole reason you are most excited for Black Adam, or had you already grown tired of waiting for that DC flick even after the actor was cast as Hawkman? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the multi-talented artist, as well as even further insight into the lives of your favorite celebrities, here on CinemaBlend.

It isn’t every day you get to see a movie that offers a hypothetical situation in which four of the most prominent and influential figures in the American Civil Rights movement get together for memorable night out on the town. And while the events of Regina King’s feature-length directorial debut were all dreamed up in the head of playwright and screenwriter Kemp Powers, the One Night in Miami cast is so committed to their craft and portrayals of Malcolm X, Cassius Clay (just before he became Muhammad Ali), Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke, you would think you were watching a documentary if you didn’t know any better.

After catching One Night in Miami at your local movie house or deciding to wait until the movie premieres on Amazon Prime Video in January 2021, you may be asking yourself where you’ve seen this crop of extremely talented and versatile actors before. There are some up-and-comers in the cast, but that shouldn’t take away from what some of these names have been able to accomplish in such a short time. With those fresh faces there are also some of Hollywood’s most notable character actors, who also get a time to shine in this imaginative period piece. Let’s see who’s who in One Night in Miami.

Kingsley Ben-Adir (Malcolm X)

Portraying the American Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X in One Night in Miami is Kingsley Ben-Adir, who has been on quite a roll as of late after taking on some fairly large roles in a number of television programs and feature films. In 2020 alone, Ben-Adir appeared in the Showtime original miniseries The Comey Rule in which he played former United States President Barack Obama, an episode of the HBO Max original series Love Life, a recurring role as Russell “Mac” McCormack on the Hulu series adaptation of High Fidelity, and a one-off performance on the AMC series Soulmates.

Prior to his busy 2020, Kingsley Ben-Adir appeared on shows like The OA, Peaky Blinders, and Deep State, as well as the Disney+ original comedy Noelle and Guy Ritchie’s 2017 Camelot re-imagining, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Eli Goree (Cassius Clay)

The plot of One Night in Miami takes place just after boxing legend Cassius Clay lands a surprise victory over Sonny Liston, and playing “The Greatest” in the 2020 period drama is Eli Goree. A longtime television actor with appearances on shows ranging from Riverdale, where he has a recurring role as Munroe “Mad Dog” Moore, to The 100, Goree has also shown up in titles like Legends of Tomorrow, GLOW, and Supernatural over the years.

Surprisingly, One Night in Miami is Eli Goree’s third credit in a feature film, having previously appeared in a very small capacity in 2014’s Godzilla, and in a more notable performance as Olympic track star Dave Albritton in the 2016 sports drama Race, which chronicled Jesse Owens' winning a record-breaking four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin games.

Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown)

Of the four main actors who make up the central cast of One Night in Miami no one has more credits to their name than Aldis Hodge, who portrays American football icon Jim Brown. Hodge is probably best known for his portrayal of MC Ren in the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, or perhaps for playing Levi Jackson in the inspiring NASA story Hidden Figures, both of which came out in 2016.

But those are just two of the dozens of movies, television shows, and video games in which Aldis Hodge has been featured throughout his career, which goes all the way back to 1994’s Die Hard with a Vengeance. Also included in that long list are shows like Friday Night Lights, The Walking Dead, and The Blacklist. He will next appear as Hawkman in Black Adam.

Leslie Odom Jr. (Sam Cooke)

Sam Cooke, the American soul singer best remembered for his highly emotional song “A Change Is Gonna Come,” (which was inspired by his 1963 arrest in the Jim Crow South) is portrayed by none other than the sensational Leslie Odom Jr. of Hamilton fame. In addition to being the first actor to take on the role of Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway sensation, Odom has been in everything from theatrical productions of Rent, Dreamgirls, and Jersey Boys, to movies like Harriet, Only, and Red Tails, and television shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI: Miami.

On top of all of that, Leslie Odom Jr. has also released multiple studio albums, including two Christmas records, the most recent having come out in November 2020. For some, however, Odom will always been remembered for his career-defining performance in Hamilton all those years ago.

Lance Reddick (Brother Kareem)

Outside of its four main stars, the One Night in Miami cast is made up some pretty impressive talent, including Lance Reddick, who takes on the role of Brother Kareem, Malcolm X’s bodyguard and confidante. It is impossible to go through any streaming service and not see at least one movie or television program featuring Reddick in some capacity. Whether it be in shows like The Wire, Fringe, and Bosch or film appearances, like in the John Wick franchise, the Baltimore native has been one of the hardest working actors in the business since getting his start in 1992.

Nicolette Robinson (Barbara Cooke)

Nicolette Robinson makes her film debut in One Night in Miami, in which she plays Barbara Cooke, the wife of soul singer Sam Cooke, but this is far from the first entry on her impressive list of credits. With major roles on shows like The Affair, Hart of Dixie, and Perfect Couples, the wife of co-star Leslie Odom Jr. has also had success on the stage, including her 2018 Broadway debut with Waitress. Robinson also recently appeared in the Freeform series Love in the Time of Corona.

Michael Imperioli (Angelo Dundee)

Michael Imperioli, the Primetime Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered for his portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, appears in One Night in Miami as Cassius Clay's longtime trainer and cornerman Angelo Dundee. Between the iconic HBO series and Regina King’s new period drama, Imperioli has shown up in everything from Law & Order to The Office, with film credits that include The Lovely Bones, Shark Tale, and Spike Lee’s 2013 remake of Oldboy.

Beau Bridges (Mr. Carlton)

Beau Bridges shows up in One Night in Miami as a wealthy Georgia man by the name of Mr. Carlton who shows up briefly to have a pointed conversation with Aldis Hodge’s Jim Brown on the southerner’s plantation home. The multi Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy award-winning actor has appeared in hundreds of movies, television programs, and other productions throughout his career, which spans all the way back to 1948, including Gunsmoke, Stargate SG-1, and Alexander Payne’s 2011 drama The Descendants.

Joaquina Kalukango (Betty Shabazz)

Joaquina Kalukango appears briefly in One Night in Miami as Malcolm X’s supportive and committed wife Betty Shabazz, a.k.a. Betty X. Kalukango, who has since gone on to appear in HBO’s supernatural social examination, Lovecraft Country, previously portrayed Shabazz in a yet-to-be-released 2015 short film titled I Had a Dream.

Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (Drew 'Bundini' Brown)

Drew Bundini Brown, the longtime assistant trainer for Cassius Clay, is portrayed by Lawrence Gilliard Jr. in One Night in Miami. Gilliard, who appeared in The Wire as D’Angelo Barksdale, the ill-fated lieutenant in his cousin’s drug-dealing operation, has shown up in everything from The Walking Dead to The Deuce in recent years, but in the past, the accomplished actor has taken on memorable roles in comedies like The Waterboy and psychological thrillers like The Machinist.

Aaron D. Alexander (Sonny Liston)

Sonny Liston, the boxing legend who is defeated by Cassius Clay in One Night in Miami, is portrayed by Aaron D. Alexander. The actor has not only appeared in small roles on shows like Scandal, Ballers, and American Crime, but has also performed stunt work in Marvel projects like Captain Marvel, Inhumans, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Jeremy Pope (Jackie Wilson)

American soul singer Jackie Wilson is brought to the big screen in One Night in Miami by Jeremy Pope, who has performed in various stage productions both on and off Broadway, as well as the 2020 Netflix series Hollywood, in which he played Archie Coleman. Throughout his career, Pope has been nominated for Tony, Grammy, and Primetime Emmy awards for his various performances.

Christopher Gorham (Johnny Carson)

Regina King’s One Night in Miami features dramatizations of some of the most iconic figures of 1960s America, and the movie wouldn’t be complete without someone playing the former king of late night TV, Johnny Carson. Christopher Gorham, whose film credits mostly consist of voice work for various DC Comics animated features, has the honor of portraying talk show legend in the 2020 star-studded affair. In addition to voicing Barry Allen on multiple occasions, Gorham has appeared on shows like Ugly Betty, Modern Family, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

This is just a dozen or so of the talented actors that make up the cast of Regina King's One Night in Miami. If you've already seen the movie and want to know what else is coming out the final days of the year, check out CinemaBlend's 2020 release guide for all the latest.

Hawkman’s been around the DC Comics block for 80 years now, but he’s only just now getting his theatrical debut. Following live-action appearances on TV shows like Smallville and Legends of Tomorrow, the superhero will appear on the big screen through Black Adam, with The Invisible Man’s Aldis Hodge playing the DC Extended Universe’s version of Carter Hall. Getting to play a superhero is a big deal for most actors, but Hodge is especially looking forward to playing Hawkman because of the character’s historic ties to Africa.

During a recent conversation with THR, Aldis Hodge talked about how growing up, he hated learning about history in school because he knew what was being taught about his culture was “not right.” He knew this because his mom was an educator keeping her children properly informed. Now that he gets to play Hawkman as an adult, Hodge finds the character’s journey to figure out his purpose and correct people’s understanding of the time period he originally hails from to be appealing. As Hodge put it:

For those unfamiliar with the Cater Hall iteration of Hawkman, he started out as Prince Khufu, who lived in ancient Egypt and discovered a crashed Thanagarian ship containing Nth metal, the substance that allows Hawkman to fly. Khufu and his consort Chay-Ara were killed by the jealous priest known as Hath-Set, but the couple’s love allowed their souls to endure, resulting in them continuing to be reincarnated across many lifetimes. By the 1940s (or simply contemporary times, depending on the continuity) Khufu and Chay-Ara are living as Carter Hall and Shiera Sanders, and fighting crime as Hawkman and Hawkgirl, respectively.

Hawkman won’t be accompanied by Hawkgirl in Black Adam, but Aldis Hodge’s comments indicate that we are getting a relative faithful adaptation of the character, at least where his Egyptian roots are concerned. Hodge also said the following to say about why he appreciates Hawkman:

So in addition to following along with Hawkman in the present day, presumably we’ll get a peek at his time as Prince Khufu. Beyond that, it’s hard to say if we’ll see any of Carter Hall’s other past lives. Still, it’s clear that Aldis Hodge is jazzed to be playing Hawkman, though when Dwayne Johnson, the man bringing Black Adam to life, called Hodge to tell him he’s scored the role, the actor initially didn’t believe it was actually The Rock on the other end of the call.

Hawkman is participating in Black Adam as part of the Justice Society of America, which is fitting since he was one of the superhero team’s founding members in the comics. His teammates in the DCEU will include Atom Smasher (played by Noah Centineo), Doctor Fate and Cyclone. There have been rumors that the JSA’s appearance in Black Adam might be used as a platform to launch a spinoff film series. Should that happen, and assuming Aldis Hodge is game to reprise Hawkman, that could provide more opportunities to look back at other incarnations of Khufu over the millennia.

Black Adam was previously scheduled to come out on December 22, 2021, but now it’s been undated. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for when the new release date and other Black Adam updates come in, and keep track of what else the DCEU has coming up with our DC movies guide.

Warner Bros’ Black Adam will not only introduce Dwayne Johnson’s antihero into the DCEU, it will also bring the Justice Society of America to the big screen. This version of the JSA will include Doctor Fate, Cyclone, Noah Centineo’s Atom Smasher and Aldis Hodge’s Hawkman. Hodge was only announced to be playing Carter Hall last month, but he’s already preparing for the high-profile part.

If you were Aldis Hodge, you would be too! The Invisible Man and Leverage actor will reportedly get to suit up this spring when Black Adam begins shooting. Here’s how he’s getting ready for the role right now:

Whoa, he’s really reading up! The actor took to his Instagram to share the stack of JSA comics he is deeming his “weekend homework.” The issues he’s getting himself into are Geoff Johns’ The Power of Legacy from the early ‘00s, the new Hawkman run Awakening and The Golden Age, among others. It’s nice to see the proof that Aldis Hodge is serious about delving into Carter Hall’s decades-long journey in the comics before crafting his own iteration of the hero.

I’d imagine this is only the first step. Read up first and then hit the gym and bulk up second for Hawkman? This is seems to be his mental workout to get his brain ready to bring his own energy to the character of Carter Hall, who has never been adapted for the big screen until now. Based on the impressive spread Aldis Hodge has in front of him, he's drawing from many different eras of the character -- or at least making darn sure he knows Hawkman’s history front to back.

Aldis Hodge has been acting since the ‘90s, beginning with his role as Samuel L. Jackson’s nephew in Die Hard with a Vengeance back when he was around 10. The TV series Leverage was his big break (it’s actually getting a revival soon), and he’s since played supporting roles in a round of movies/TV such as Hidden Figures and Black Mirror’s seminal "Black Museum" episode. He had the titular role in the 2018 sports film Brian Banks and will soon play Jim Brown in Regina King’s One Night in Miami.

Dwayne Johnson recently shared the story of his phone call to Aldis Hodge, during which he broke the good news about his Black Adam role. The actor apparently was in disbelief that The Rock was on the other side of the line at first but, once he realized it, he had the best reaction ever and I quote: “DJAYYYY OHHHH SHIT!!!!!!” Johnson would go on to say they had an “awesome conversation full of gratitude, love and motivation.”

Black Adam was initially set to hit theaters in December 2021 but has since been removed from the DC release date calendar after shuffles were made due to COVID-19. We’ll keep you updated but, in the meantime, read up on Hawkman yourself with our guide to the hero.

I believe that it is safe to assume that from just the mere sight of Aldis Hodge as James Lanier bursting into his house to come to his daughter’s rescue in Blumhouse's The Invisible Man, we knew that this guy (who actually got his start playing Samuel L. Jackson's nephew in Die Hard with A Vengeance) was destined to play a superhero. Even if I am only speaking for myself in that regard, thanks to a recent update to the main cast of Black Adam, at least I can say my prediction was correct. The 34-year-old actor will star as Hawkman in the highly anticipated DC movie.

The December 22, 2021 release, which also stars Dwayne Johnson in the anti-heroic title role, will mark the big screen debut of the winged warrior following multiple appearances on both live action and animated TV series, such as Super Friends, Smallville, and several series from within the Arrowverse. Hawkman has also gone through a convoluted variety of reinterpretations since his debut in the Golden Age of comics, the most notable of which would be have to be Katar Hol - a Thanagarian warrior prince whom DC has put through the retcon machine a dizzying amount of times as well.

Because we cannot be certain at this time exactly which iteration Aldis Hodge is intended to portray (and to avoid any further confusion when attempting to trace his history), we have decided to focus primarily on Carter Hall, the original Hawkman, for this piece. These following six essential facts about the premiere name behind that unmistakable battle armor should give you the right idea of what to expect from his DCEU debut in Black Adam, starting with the most basic explanation of how he came to be such a badass.

Hawkman Is The Reincarnation Of An Egyptian Prince

Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, Hawkman was introduced in the first ever issue of Flash Comics in January 1940. He first emerges (or, more accurately to the narrative, re-emerges) to fight evil when a wealthy, American archeologist named Carter Hall discovers that the reincarnated soul of the ancient Egyptian prince Khufu exists within him, imbuing him a slew of astonishing abilities to help him defend the Earth.

Hawkman Can Actually Communicate With Birds And Other Wildlife

Among the fascinating, otherworldly powers that Hawkman possesses are underwater breathing (thanks to Poseidon), spiritual blessings (having been a priest in a past life), a millennia’s worth of memories and knowledge and (most aptly) talking to various species of animals after years of learning the studying the ways of the hawk and languages of other well-known beasts. These do not, however, count for the skills that Carter Hall acquired prior to learning his true self, such as archeology, mastering various weapons (including the more archaic battle axes and maces he is best known for wielding) and a keen talent for scientific invention.

An Anti-Gravity Metal Allows Hawkman To Fly

Carter Hall’s inventive skills would come in handy when constructing the device that makes his defining ability to fly possible: a belt and boot combo made from a metallic substance known only as “Nth Metal,” which allows the user to defy gravity by their own mental control. He also laces the metal within the man-made, feathered wings he wears on his back to help him better navigate his flight pattern. In addition to being able to float, Hawkman can even use the Nth Metal to accelerate his healing factor and sustain himself for long periods of time - which, essentially, makes this substance an equivalent to Marvel’s vibranium, even though DC introduced its magic metal first.

Hawkman Is A Founding Member Of The Justice Society Of America

Speaking of beating others to the punch, while most people consider the Justice League to be the ultimate collaboration of DC superheroes, they were not the first to do so, as the original formation of the Justice Society of America came about in the Golden Age of DC comics (1940, to be more precise). The founding members of this team (none of which headlined their own comics at the time) included Jay Garrick as The Flash, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern and, of course, Hawkman. Another key contributor of the JSA’s initial lineup was Sheira Sanders, a woman who was particularly close to Carter Hall.

Hawkman And Hawkgirl Fight Alongside Each Other As Partners

Sheira Sanders would eventually become Sheira Sanders Hall after falling in love with Carter Hall, as it is her destiny. Like Hawkman, she is also the reincarnation of an ancient royal figure who imbues her with the necessary abilities to fight evil as Hawkgirl, and whose soulmate is, indeed, Prince Khufu. As long as their curse to be repeatedly reborn in a new body lasts, these two will be partners in both profession and romance, giving the term “love birds” a whole new meaning.

Hawkman And Hawkgirl Are Parents To A Later Incarnation Of Doctor Fate

Another superhero involved with the foundation of the Justice Society of America is Doctor Fate, a powerful sorcerer who (like pretty much any other costumed crimefighter you can name) has appeared as various characters in DC comics. One of the latter individuals to helm the moniker is Hector Hall, who happens to be the son of Carter Hall and Sheira Sanders Hall. Although Doctor Fate is among the JSA characters said to appear in Black Adam, I imagine that it will not Hector’s iteration we will see, especially considering the fact that his mother is not even going to be a part of the movie, which is another story altogether.

What do you think? Has our breakdown of the one iteration of Hawkman with the simplest history made you even more excited to see Aldis Hodge tear the screen up with a battle mace, or is the discovery that Hawkgirl will not be joining him in Black Adam underwhelmed you to the idea a bit? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the upcoming DCEU movie, as well as even more in-depth looks into the legacies of your favorite comic book characters, here on CinemaBlend.

Last month at DC FanDome, it was revealed that the Justice Society of America lineup in the upcoming Black Adam movie will consist of Atom Smasher, Hawkman, Doctor Fate and Cyclone. We already knew beforehand that To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star Noah Centineo will play Atom Smasher, and word came in several days ago that The Invisible Man star Aldis Hodge is being lined up to bring Hawkman to life.

As one of DC Comics’ oldest superheroes, it’s about time that Hawkman finally make his theatrical debut, but what would an Aldis Hodge-portrayed version of the winged superhero look like in the DC Extended Universe? Here’s how one artist envisions it:

Approving of Aldis Hodge being cast as Hawkman for Black Adam, digital artist ultraraw26 shared their take on how the actor might look in the role with the above Instagram post. This would definitely be a comics-accurate look of Hawkman, because while he oftentimes flies shirtless into battle (excluding those chest straps), there have been instances where he’s donned armor that calls back to Egyptian or alien roots (depending on which Hawkman we’re talking about) for the more intense battles.

Even with Black Adam tentatively planning to begin filming in early 2021, it’s hard to say when we’ll get our first look at Aldis Hodge as Hawkman. Sometimes these official pictures of an actor in costume can come out at the beginning of principal photography, other times they’re saved for a little while after shooting has wrapped. Still, as far as guesses for the cinematic Hawkman look go, this is definitely a strong one.

While it was initially reported that Aldis Hodge was in final negotiations to play Hawkman, Dwayne Johnson, the man bringing Black Adam’s eponymous character to life, confirmed on social media with a hilarious story that Hodge had indeed scored the role. With Hawkman and Atom Smasher accounted for, that leaves Doctor Fate and Cyclone left to be cast. Originally there were plans to include Hawkgirl in Black Adam, but Johnson said she had to be removed for yet-to-be-revealed reasons.

No specific plot details for Black Adam have been revealed yet, although judging by the concept art shown at DC FanDome, it seems like the Justice Society’s clash with Black Adam will happen in the present day, though we’ll also look to the ancient past to learn how the man once known as Teth-Adam gained his powers, which was teased last year in Shazam!. We also don’t know for sure yet which Hawkman Aldis Hodge will play, although it’s reasonable to assume it’ll be the Carter Hall version given his ties to both Black Adam and the JSA in the comics.

Hawkman has previously been played in live-action by Michael Shanks on Smallville and Falk Hentschel in the Arrowverse shows Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, and the character was also recently referenced on Stargirl. As for Aldis Hodge, his other notable credits include Straight Outta Compton, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Hidden Figures, Leverage and Underground.

Black Adam is still scheduled to drop on December 22, 2021, but if that release date changes, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. For now, be sure to look through our DC movies guide to learn what else the DCEU has coming up.

Dwayne Johnson’s long-anticipated Black Adam film is finally gaining some serious momentum, and the cast is slowly starting to fill out. We’ve known that Johnson is set to play the titular antihero and that Noah Centineo will portray DC Comics hero Atom Smasher but, now, we’ve just learned that Aldis Hodge has joined the cast as Hawkman. Landing a key role in a massive project like this wouldn’t seem real for some actors. And based on a hilarious story shared by Johnson, it sounds like Hodge initially thought his casting was a prank.

Shortly after news broke of Aldis Hodge’s Black Adam casting, Dwayne Johnson took to Instagram to recall the time he called Aldis Hodge to tell him he’d been hired. Johnson wanted to personally reach out to the actor with the news, but the unexpected interaction that ensued turned out to be “one of the greatest conversations” Johnson has ever had.

Dwayne Johnson gave a detailed description of the initial chat, which began with him casually calling up Aldis Hodge. However, when the wrestler-turned-actor introduced himself, there was a long pause before Hodge responded with, “Whoever this is stop playing on my phone.” Johnson then asserted that he was in fact who he said he was though, after another lengthy pause, Hodge stated, “This shit ain’t funny, I said stop playing on my fucking phone.”

Johnson finally managed to convince Hodge, however, when he thanked him for sending in his audition tape and for putting his all into it before formally welcoming him to the cast. With this, Hodge asked him to hold while he stepped away for a moment, and Johnson recalls only hearing “inaudible yells.” An excited Hodge then returned to the phone, and the two proceeded to have a conversation that was filled with “gratitude, love and motivation.”

I don’t know about any of you, but I think my initial response to Johnson’s call would have been the same as Hodge’s. The actor was probably expecting his agent to call with news on the role and not the film’s star and producer. Still, it all makes for a great story, and you can’t help but smile when reading about Hodge’s excitement. Check out Johnson’s original post down below:

Over the years, Aldis Hodge has proven his talent through a myriad of projects, which range from TV shows like Leverage, Underground and City on a Hill to films like Straight Outta Compton and The Invisible Man. The latter film, which released earlier this year, has earned him significant acclaim. So it should come as no surprise that he came onto Warner Bros. and DC’s radar.

Black Adam will see the character come to blows with the Justice Society of America, which consists of Hawkman, Atom Smasher, Cyclone and Doctor Fate. There’s no telling how this story will pan out, but fans are certainly hoping it will lead to an eventual face-off between Black Adam and Shazam. Still, let’s hope there’s a future for Aldis Hodge in the growing DC Extended Universe as well.

Black Adam will thunder into theaters on December 22, 2021.

With the hero formerly known as Captain Marvel finally making his theatrical debut last year, the Shazam! corner of the DC Extended Universe will expand soon with Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson as the eponymous protagonist. Last year, Johnson revealed that the Justice Society of America will appear in Black Adam, and now word’s come in on who will be playing one of the superhero team’s members, Hawkman.

City on the Hill and The Invisible Man star Aldis Hodge is currently in final negotiations to play Hawkman in Black Adam, according to THR. Hodge’s other notable credits include Leverage (he’ll also return for the show’s revival), Turn: Washington’s Spies, Underground, Straight Outta Compton and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.

Last month at DC FanDome, it was revealed during the Black Adam panel that the movie’s Justice Society lineup would consist of Hawkman, Atom Smasher, Doctor Fate and Cyclone. We already knew at that point that To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before star Noah Centineo will be playing Atom Smasher, and assuming both sides come to an agreement, it looks like Aldis Hodge will be the first cinematic Hawkman, leaving Doctor Fate and Cyclone left to be cast.

Hawkman has one of the more complicated backstories in DC Comics canon, but presumably Black Adam will feature the Carter Hall incarnation, who debuted in the comics in 1940’s Flash Comics #1 and was one of the founding members of the Justice Society of America. Carter was originally an ancient Egyptian prince named Khufu, but in the following millennia, he and his lover Chay-Ara have been reincarnated in numerous forms and eventually learn about their past lives. In modern times, they’re known as Carter and Shiera Hall, with Shiera donning the Hawkgirl mantle. Both are able to fly thanks to a special harness made from the alien element known as Nth metal.

While there were originally plans to include Hawkgirl in Black Adam, she ended up being replaced by Cyclone for yet-to-be-revealed reasons. So Hawkman will be the only winged superhero in the upcoming DC movie, but considering the complicated and oftentimes antagonistic relationship he and Black Adam had during Geoff Johns’ JSA comic book run, hopefully we’ll get a similar dynamic between the two characters on the big screen.

No specific Black Adam plot details have been disclosed yet, but judging by the concept art shared at DC FanDome, it looks like Black Adam will cross paths with Hawkman and the rest of the Justice Society in the present day. We’ll also look back to ancient times (it’s unclear if this will be in Egypt or the fictional Kahndaq) to learn how the man known as Teth-Adam obtained his powers, which was teased in Shazam!.

Behind the cameras, Jaume Collet-Serra, who’s already worked with Dwayne Johnson on Jungle Cruise, is directing, and Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani wrote the latest draft, with Undatable’s Adam Sztykiel having previously worked on the script. Since Johnson is still shooting the Netflix movie Red Notice, the plan is for Black Adam to begin principal photography in early 2021.

Black Adam is currently slated to drop on December 22, 2021, though if that date ends up changing, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. For now, look through our handy guide detailing the other DC Comics movies that are coming down the creative pipeline, and you can check out Aldis Hodge’s latest movie, Magic Camp, on Disney+.

After 15 seasons, Supernatural will soon come to a close. With that much time on air (dating back to when The CW was still The WB), Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) have many adventures to look back on and, with that, many familiar faces who may not have been so familiar when they made their appearance on the series.

Perhaps you remember the time 1980s music icon Rick Springfield played a rock star possessed by Lucifer himself, or The Exorcist star Linda Blair’s spot as as a skeptical police detective, or even when Paris Hilton dabbled in self-mockery as a demon-possessed version of herself. However, do you remember seeing Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard on Supernatural, or maybe Emmy-winner Sterling K. Brown?

These are just two celebrities who would eventually take Hollywood by storm, but not before landing a gig on the extremely popular fantasy adventure series. There are 11 others we had in mind to mention.

Alden Ehrenreich (Ben Collins)

Playing a younger version of Harrison Ford’s iconic space pilot in the 2018 prequel Solo: A Star Wars Story made Alden Ehrenreich a household name. More than a decade earlier, the then 15-year-old actor made his screen debut on the second ever episode of Supernatural, called “Wendigo,” as Ben Collins, a young man looking for his missing older brother in a Colorado forest with his older sister, Haley (Gina Holden). Sam and Dean, while posing as park rangers, agree to help them on a hunch that the sibling may have been killed by the titular mythical creature.

Sterling K. Brown (Gordon Walker)

From his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning role on the hit NBC drama This Is Us to his brief, yet memorable, appearance Eric Killmonger's late, Wakandan born father in Black Panther, Sterling K. Brown has become one of the most versatile, sought-after actors today following a career spanning nearly two decades. One of his earlier roles was a guest spot in Season 2 of Supernatural as a Gordon Walker, a vampire hunter who has it out for Sam Winchester. Brown would reprise the character for a three-episode arc the following season, that saw him become the very creature he despised and ended with Sam beheading him.

Lauren Cohan (Bela Talbot)

In one attempt to find the Winchester Brothers, Gordon Walker interrogated their on-and-off ally, con artist Abbie Talbot (better known as "Bela"), played by Lauren Cohan. The British-American actress would eventually become a master at battling monstrous creatures after joining the cast of The Walking Dead in its second season, but her first recurring role on Season 3 of Supernatural saw her employed by monstrous creatures years after making a deal with a demon in her teens. Despite occasionally turning good to help Sam and Dean, her redemption moment came to a bitter end after betraying the brothers, costing her whatever protection they could have provided once her devilish bargain expired and allowing her soul to be taken by Hellhounds.

Finn Wolfhard (Jordie Pinksy)

While still a teenager, Finn Wolfhard has earned the title of his generation's most prolific "scream king," from playing Richie Tozier in both It films, starring in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and, of course, his breakout role on Stranger Things. Yet, the Canadian actor's first association with the horror genre began a year before he was cast on the hit Netflix series as a guest star on Supernatural. In the 2015 episode "Thin Lizzie," Wolfhard plays Jordie Pinsky, whose father was the victim of a murder which took place at the childhood home of alleged murderer Lizzie Borden, now re-opened as a bed and breakfast, and Sam and Dean are convinced that primordial being The Darkness, which they just call "Amara" (Yasmeene Ball), may be involved.

Leslie Odom Jr. (Guy)

In one of his first TV gigs, Leslie Odom Jr. starred in a wedding episode of Gilmore Girls, which was Jared Padalecki's first major TV gig. Coincidentally, the future Hamilton actor's sole appearance alongside Padalecki on Supernatural is the Season 7 episode literally titled "Season Seven, Time for a Wedding!" The nuptials in question are between Sam and his obsessed fan Becky Rosen (Emily Perkins), which Dean correctly assumes is the work of some sort of black magic and eventually discovers Becky sold her soul to a crossroads demon named Guy (Odom Jr.) in exchange for Sam's love.

Dylan Minnette (Danny Carter)

As a protagonist in 2016 thriller Don't Breathe and the Netflix original horror flick The Open House, Dylan Minnette tends to play a lot of characters who enter places that they should be staying away from. In fact, this reputation dates back even years before he landed a lead role on hit drama 13 Reasons Why when the then 13-year-old starred in a Season 4 episode of Supernatural. In the episode, called "Family Remains," Minnette plays a young member of the Carter Family, who have just moved into a house in Nebraska, only to come across Sam and Dean, who have reason to believe their new home is haunted.

Ashley Benson (Tracy Davis)

After breaking out as Hanna Marin, a meek protagonist of Pretty Little Liars, in 2010, Ashley Benson's next big role would be the not-so-meek Brit in Harmony Korine's controversial thriller Spring Breakers. Yet, before either of those projects came her way, the model/actress also played quite a "hellraiser" (more literally speaking) in the Season 4 Halloween episode of Supernatural, in which she starred as Tracy Davis, a 600-year-old witch performing human sacrifice to resurrect the evil demon Samhaim (actually pronounced correctly in the episode). However, Sam and Dean do not figure that out until after they initially try to protect her from evil art teacher Don Harding (Don McManus), who actually turned out to be her brother.

Gary Cole (Brad Redding)

What helps Gary Cole stand out among the rest of the of the actors on this list is that, by the time he landed his guest spot on Supernatural, he had pretty much already established himself as a prominent onscreen presence, especially as Bill Lumbergh, cinema's quintessential boss from hell, in the classic 1999 comedy Office Space. Of course, the fact that his Season 2 appearance has certain thematic parallels to that iconic role only makes it more worth mentioning. In "Hollywood Babylon," Sam and Dean pose as production assistants to infiltrate a supposedly a haunted movie set, but Brad Redding, a bullish producer played by Cole, turns out to be one of more antagonistic characters they encounter, until he falls prey to the real on-set evil.

Katie Cassidy (Ruby/Lilith)

Although she is best known today for playing Laurel Lance (a.k.a. Black Canary) on Arrow, Katie Cassidy does have a place in horror movie royalty (so to speak) for her roles in the modern day remakes of When a Stranger Calls and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Her proudest moment within the genre would more likely be her recurring role on Supernatural, for which she actually got to play characters. Starting off as the first known human vessel of Ruby, a demon who becomes a frequent ally to the Winchester Brothers and love interest of Sam, Cassidy's character's body would eventually be taken over by a white-eyed demon named Lilith, who is most definitely not an ally to the Sam and Dean, but used her new appearance to insidiously achieve their trust.

Aldis Hodge (Jake Talley)

In Leigh Whannel's 2020 update of The Invisible Man, Aldis Hodge plays James Lanier, a police officer who falls prey to the manipulation of his friend's evil ex-husband. In the two-part Season 2 finale of Supernatural, he played Jake Talley, a US military officer who possesses the ability to manipulate others with mind control as a "Special Child," but that did not stop him from falling prey to the wishes of the Yellow-Eyed Demon, Azazel, and become one hell of an obstacle for Sam and Dean. Jake eventually becomes entirely consumed by his demonic side, becoming instrumental in the unleashing of the Apocalypse.

Felicia Day (Charlie Bradbury)

Felicia Day has earned a bit of a "geek goddess" reputation among her cult followers for years, from starring on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eureka, her recent regular role on Netflix's Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival, and plenty more beloved projects. Among those programs, undoubtedly, is Supernatural, on which she starred as skilled computer hacker, and LARP enthusiast, Charlie Bradbury, whom Sam and Dean treat as the "sister [they] never wanted." Her Season 7 debut would only be Day's first appearance on the series and would later appear as Charlie's evil side as well as an alternate version of the previously murdered character originating from an apocalyptic dimension from which Dean transports her to the main Earth.

Jared Keeso (Matt Harrison)

It is impossible to imagine Jared Keeso as anyone other than Wayne, central character of the hilariously surreal comedy series Letterkenny, which he also created. Believe it or not, however, the Canadian actor had a career before the Hulu exclusive series, which includes a brief guest spot on the second season of Supernatural in which he plays Matt Harrison, the unfaithful boyfriend of Angela Mason (Amara Zaragoza), and her first victim after she resurrects from the dead as a vengeful zombie. He is actually just one Letterkenny actor to have had a guest spot on Supernatural, given a lot of it is filmed in Canada, including Nathan Dales, Kaniehtiio Horn, and Tyler Johnston.

Cory Monteith (Gary)

Another actor who made one of his first TV appearances in the second episode of Supernatural (like the previously mentioned Alden Ehrenreich) was Cory Monteith, who played a camper named Gary who becomes a victim of the Colorado Wendigo. Years later, the Canadian actor would achieve great success as a high school athlete balancing sports with a love for performing arts on the hit musical series Glee. Unfortunately, his role was tragically cut short when he passed away at 31 due to a combined overdose of alcohol and heroin.

For more information and updates on Supernatural, as well as more A-listers who made early appearances on your favorite shows, here on CinemaBlend.

The TV revival trend isn't as active at the moment as it has been in recent years, with high-profile returnees such as Will & Grace and Fuller House ending their secondary runs this year. The well hasn't fully dried up, though, and the TNT crime drama Leverage is the latest former TV hit to get marked for a continuation. It's a fantastic update for fans, but take note that this awesome news also comes with some pretty noteworthy changes, such as ER vet Noah Wyle joining as a series regular.

While we'll get into the cast changes and plot more in a minute, let's first get talk about Leverage getting a new TV home for its impending revival, as the Electric Entertainment-produced drama won't be returning to TNT for its sixth season. Instead, Leverage will be the first newsworthy original TV series to be produced by the relatively new (and FREE) streaming service IMDb TV, which was recently enveloped by the Amazon Studios banner. Perhaps not the best acquisition to draw youthful crowds to the burgeoning streamer, but maybe a new generation is ready for this update.

As previously hinted at, Leverage will go through some casting adjustments for the upcoming season, with a mix of new and old characters expected to show up. On the new side is ER and The Librarians vet Noah Wyle, who was most recently seen in CBS' racially charged drama The Red Line. Wyle is set to be a lead for Leverage 2.0, and he has also signed on to direct two of the season's episodes, according to Deadline. He reportedly only has a one-year deal in place.

On the returning cast members side of things, we have recent Supernatural pop-in Christian Kane reprising the role of Eliot Spencer, Beth Riesgraf as Parker and Gina Bellman as Sophie Devereaux. All three of the former stars are once again set as series regulars. Meanwhile, Aldis Hodge's Alec Hardison is expected to also return, but it will be in a recurring capacity, where his involvement will likely depend on the production schedule for Showtime's City on a Hill Season 2, which is expected to be filming at the same time as Leverage.

While more casting news will probably come in the next few months, Leverage fans probably shouldn't expect to see former lead Timothy Hutton returning as Nathan Ford. It's not 100% set in stone that he will never be involved, but the Haunting of Hill House actor was accused of sexual assault in March 2020. He denied all allegations, but not everything has been cleared up through the justice system just yet.

Leverage's original creative team is definitely back, though. Co-creators Chris Downey and John Rogers will serve as consulting producers this time around, with O.G. executive producer and director Dean Devlin taking the reins as showrunner for the revival. (Devlin and Rogers also worked on The Librarians together with Noah Wyle and Christian Kane.) Kate Rorick, Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson will also be executive producers.

Leverage, which originally ran from 2008 until its 2012 cancellation, will be a revision of the original run's central storyline, which centered on former thieves who redeemed their criminal pasts by utilizing their skillsets in order to highlight and correct the injustices caused by unlawful corporations and the government. Here's Dean Devlin's statement about the revival, which also hints at how the subject matter will be altered.

The move for IMDb TV to revamp Leverage is largely based on how popular the crime drama had become on the free streaming service ever since it was first added to the launch lineup in July 2019. That's obviously not a legitimate sign of how well the continuation will do, but everyone involved is clearly optimistic about what will happen.

Filming is tentatively set to start this summer on Leverage, with a Louisiana-based production planned to kick off in late June and early July. No plans have been announced for when IMDb TV will inevitably debut the revival, but stay tuned! Those in need of more to watch in the near future can hit up our Summer TV schedule for everything that's on the way, and our TV finales rundown to check out what's ending soon.