With the bad luck continuing, even after the Warner Bros. and Discovery, the DC universe seems to be failing when it comes to bringing the superhero line they have in their arsenal to the big screen. The wild Ezra Miller, cast back in 2014 as the title character in The flash, seems to have suddenly created the illusion that they are a messiah and will bring an indigenous revolution to the real world. Not only that, but in the search for a coveted producer who could realize DC Extended Universe’s 10-year plan (saving with Kevin Fiege at Marvel Studios), it seems that Dan Lin, who is the THE series and both of the latest godzilla movies, ultimately declined to take the position.
For now, DCEU superfans have plenty of exciting movies to look forward to in the future. On December 21, 2022, Shazam: Fury of the Gods will thunder into the theatres. Just over a year later, on August 23, 2023, the underrated blue beetle will have its debut on the big screen. And then Joaquin Phoenix returns in the highly anticipated Joker sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux. Let’s not forget the DC movie that’s around the corner though, Black Adam.
A tough challenge, even for a God
Featuring a stellar cast, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the main character, Pierce Brosnan, who steps into the shoes of the unwavering Doctor Fate, Aldis Hodge as the tenacious Hawkman (who is also the leader of the Justice Society of America), and Quintessa Swindell as the extremely intelligent cycloneThe one question that fans of the superhero genre spent the most time scratching was who the main villain would be, as that one crucial role was left out of all the initial announcements about the film.
That question was finally answered publicly on September 8, 2022, when the red-horned demon, Sabbath, was revealed in the last Black Adam trailer. He is brought to life on screen by the intense, Dutch-born actor Marwan Kenzari.
From gangster to monster
Confirmed by a description on the back of each box with the Sabbac action figure in the newly introduced DC Multiverse line, Mr. Kenzari portraying the second iteration of the character, and he goes by the name Ishmael Gregor. Ishmael, who has fairly humble origins for a comic book villain, was created in 2004 and introduced as your simple, everyday Russian mobster. After climbing the ranks and becoming a master of his field, Mr. Gregor eventually moves to New York City, where he ends up making plans to somehow gain even more power. After hearing story after story about the domineering ability the otherworldly Sabbac supposedly possessed, he and his henchmen finally find the original host in prison, Timothy Karnes. Don’t care that he Mr. Karnes must kill, but also a bus full of innocents, Mr. Gregor uses a satanic ritual to transfer the demon’s powers from Mr. Karnes to himself.
Both entities are at one time or another a power source for Sabbac in comic lore, it remains to be seen whether the theatrical version of the demon is either supernaturally charged by six symbolic demons or the seven deadly sins of man. Whatever the case, Ishmael (who now uses Sabbac’s satanic powers, that is) has various superhuman abilities, such as an overwhelming sense of speed, strength, stamina and agility. He doesn’t stop there, he can also emit a thermal explosion that can crumble entire buildings and heal much faster than humans.
Big screen adjustments are never shy about adding depth to a character’s history, and Sabbac is no exception. In Black Adam, Ishmael Gregor will be the extremist leader of Intergang, a highly influential organized crime group that always seems to be hand-in-hand with not only the despicable New Gods of Apokolips (particularly Darkseid), but also Lex Luthor in Metropolis. Intergang is always interested in the latest technology and weapons that can take down even the world’s strongest heroes.
Both forms of Black Adam’s main antagonist would make anyone freeze with fear. Dark forces of hell transform Mr. Gregor in a muscular demon with terrifying new powers that rival those of Black Adam and all members of the Justice Society of America combined. On the other hand, Mr. Gregor himself is the head of an institution that is actively trying to dethrone those who want to protect us by using the power used on other planets.
Featuring some very powerful and extraordinary DC characters clashing on screen for the first time in the soon to be released Black Adamno one should miss the spectacle of these titans fighting when the film releases on October 21, 2022.