Fans of DC hero Hawkman can now rejoice knowing they’ll soon see the soaring super on the big screen. However, the other 99% of the population should pay attention as well, since the part will be played by rising star Aldis Hodge, who has spent the past few years impressing audiences in films likeStraight Outta ComptonandHidden Figures.
Hodge joins Dwayne Johnson as the latter leads DC’s upcomingBlack Adamfilm, which will introduce the Justice Society of America to the movie universe’s ever growing cast of characters. The JSA, which is depicted in a rather different form onthe CW’sStargirl, will feature such heroes as Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher. Apparently the Justice League took all the easy names.
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Hawkman has been through a fair few iterations in the DC comics, ranging from a reincarnated Egyptian prince to an alien and back again. The rather rocky first season of the CW’sLegends of Tomorrowstarred Falk Hentschel as the Egyptian version of the character, and was notably the last time Hawkman starred in a main role.Stargirlindirectly featured the character, albeit in flashbacks. Overall, the winged hero never seems to gain much traction with audiences or critics, at least compared to other, more popular characters. He seems to suffer from whatever curse also afflicts the Fantastic Four.
Hodge’s resume is about as impressive as the news about his casting, from his first role in 1995’sDie Hard with a Vengeanceand all the way to 2020’sThe Invisible Man. He even dipped back intotheDie Hardseriesin 2013’sA Good Day to Die Hard. So he’s definitely got the experience.
Black Adammay be a bit of a surprise to some fans, either as someone few would expect to get his own film or as someone they simply hadn’t heard of before. So perhaps both Dwayne Johnson and Aldis Hodge willbreathe some real lifeinto their underdog characters and do them the justice they deserve. After all, before 2008, a sizable chunk of moviegoers would never have picked Iron Man as one of the world’s most popular superheroes.
Regardless of one’s opinions on Hawkman as a character, it’s clear he’s in good hands with Hodge. Whether or notBlack Adamproves to belightning in a bottlelike 2019’sShazam!is something only time will tell, but knowing the stellar talent behind it is certainly a good start.
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