“Went Around Everyone”: Dwayne Johnson’s Tantrums and Constant Demands Might Have Bittered the DC Relationship

Few movies have had public and media attention months after their release, like the DC’s Black Adam. The Dwayne Johnson starrer has remained a hot topic among fans of pop culture for one reason or another.

The movie, which promised so much but delivered little, continues to make news in 2023. The power struggle between DC and DJ eventually saw the former WWE Champion exit the franchise with the studio heading in an entirely new direction.

And a new report details how the relationship between those at Warner Bros. and one of the most successful modern-day actors crumbled slowly.

The report highlights that after the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, The Rock presented a plan that would make his Black Adam and Henry Cavill’s Superman the focus of DC.

How Dwayne Johnson fell out of favor at DC

According to a report in Variety after Warner Bros completed its merger with DC, The Rock, along with Black Adam producers Hiram Garcia and Beau Flynn, pitched a new direction for the studio to CEO David Zaslav.

The direction would include a multi-year plan for Black Adam and Cavill’s Superman, eventually leading to a big showdown between the two characters. However, this meeting with Zaslav upset those in charge.

An internal source mentioned in the report “Dwayne went around everyone, which didn’t sit well.”

Then there was the move to bring Henry Cavill for a cameo in Black Adam. Former DC head writer Toby Emmerich had shot down the idea in 2018, but DJ later appealed to new Warner Bros. film co-heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy who green-lit Cavill’s appearance.

The Brahma Bull later said he fought to bring Cavill back despite the reluctance of the studio.

READ MORE: “A Slap in the Face”: DC’s “Pathetic” Upcoming Move Involving Dwayne Johnson and Henry Cavill Leave Fans Raging

This wasn’t all, though. The report further highlights of Johnson’s relationship became bitter with Warner Bros. during Black Adam. In one incident, The Rock insisted on a tequila bar that featured his brand, Teremana, being present at the New York premiere of Black Adam.

This, despite the film being rated PG-13. Then a further dent was put into the already fragile partnership after DJ wanted a producing credit for the animated film “DC League of Super-Pets. However, the actor did not do much to promote it.

Then, as Black Adam failed to do big numbers at the box office, it put hopes of a sequel and The Rock’s future with DC in further doubt. Despite heavy promotion and DJ’s star presence, the movie did a business of $391 million worldwide against a budget of $195 million with $40 million more spent in reshoots.

This has led to many people deeming it a box office failure for the usually reliant Dwayne Johnson. A source for Variety further noted, “His demands increased and the returns just weren’t there.” 

Since then there has been a reshuffle at DC. James Gunn and Peter Safran have come in as new heads and wiped the slate clean to begin a new era. Dwayne Johnson announced his exit for the time being from the DC Universe soon after.

This report does offer an insight into what went behind the scenes at DC, but we may not have heard the last of this protracted saga.

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