Black Adam's Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson knows how to draw a crowd and make a statement - although, him boldly claiming that a DCEU and MCU crossover is possible is a questionable bit of optimism. Since their infancy, DC and Marvel always had a complicated relationship, but with so much chaos around their cinematic universes, it’s hard to imagine and difficult to say what the future holds for any potential DCEU and MCU connectivity. With that, many are wondering the Rock is so vocal about the idea of collaboration, as well as what are the realistic chances of this crossover happening.
A star of both Disney films and Warner Bros.’ DCEU, The Rock ominously discussed the possibility of a Marvel crossover in a 2022 interview. Having headlined DC League of Super-Pets and Black Adam in 2022, Johnson lamented, “Across the street, we have the pantheon of superheroes and supervillains of Marvel. To me, they can not only exist, but they should, in my mind, cross paths one day.” Seemingly worlds apart, separated by red tape and the obstacles surrounding Warner Bros.’ reorganization of the DCEU, the idea of Superman meeting Spider-Man has seemed unlikely. Nonetheless, The Rock claimed that he was “optimistic” about the possibility.
While The Rock’s interview appeared to be wishful thinking - and/or a way to promote talks between the MCU and DCEU - there’s perhaps little more to this claim than to splash the title Black Adam onto the headlines. To promote his latest film, Johnson told audiences what they wanted to hear, as he tends to do. After all, the possibility is technically there, and with fan service dominating superhero flicks, there’s little that audiences demand more than a collaboration between the two defining names within the genre.
Could A DCEU & MCU Crossover Ever Happen?
After The Rock’s career as a WWE star, he was no stranger to pleasing the crowds. At a 2022 SDCC panel, he’s used this strategy in the past and to considerable success when hyping up a potential fight with Henry Cavill’s Superman. Full of gasps and cheers from an astonished crowd, Black Adam successfully made the news, getting fans talking about how it’d happen, who’d win, and the potential return of Cavill as Superman. Even in 2021, DC and Marvel alumni Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds, and even The Rock themselves assured fans they could make a crossover happen when promoting their latest film at the time, Netflix’s Red Notice. "We could make something happen, even if it is just for a moment," said Johnson. So, it’s on brand for The Rock; he playfully teased fans before, and it’ll surely happen again for future projects. Yet, the real question remains: will a Marvel and DC multiverse movie ever happen?
The ingenious part about The Rock’s vision of a crossover is that it’s not impossible, making it something audiences want to believe. Previously, DC and Marvel cooperated on projects like JLA/Avengers and Amalgam Comics. Such fan servicing crossover events seem to be what’s popular, with Michael Keaton returning as Batman, Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier, and multiversal films like Spider-Man: No Way Home. Also, there was a time when Spider-Man and the X-Men were considered unfeasible in the MCU too. Anything’s possible within the multiverse and it may be the only way to outdo Avengers: Endgame’s finale.
Strangely, it’s not the ancient Egyptian gods that give Black Adam its power; it’s the man playing the title character. The ability to promote a project in an oversaturated time of superhero media is no easy task. However, with talent and a larger-than-life personality like former WWE title holder Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, nothing appears impossible, including a monumental multiversal movie merger.
