Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s grand vision for the DC Universe, with Black Adam at its core, was abruptly halted following the film’s commercial and critical failure. A report from The Wall Street Journal confirmed that talks between Johnson and Warner Bros. Discovery about his expanded role ended after the movie underperformed, despite securing Johnson’s biggest opening weekend.
The plan, which reportedly included a future clash with Henry Cavill’s Superman, dissolved when the studio instead appointed James Gunn to reboot the cinematic universe. In a previous interview with Kevin Hart, Johnson attributed some of the turmoil to leadership changes at Warner Bros.
“There’s a vortex of new leadership… that was part of the issue.”
This setback in his Hollywood ambitions contrasts with his continued, albeit complex, influence in the world of wrestling. In early 2025, Johnson was appointed to the Board of Directors at TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, where he also regained full rights to his iconic wrestling name. His return to WWE programming as the “Final Boss” was a pivotal part of the storyline involving Cody Rhodes and John Cena, culminating at the Elimination Chamber event on March 1.
Despite his powerful new role and on-screen presence at major events, including the Netflix debut of WWE RAW, reports have pointed to backstage friction. Creative disagreements with WWE management, particularly with Triple H, have been noted, including a rejected pitch for Cody Rhodes to turn heel. Johnson’s subsequent silence on promoting WWE has only fueled these rumors.
Further complicating his WWE status was an announcement he made on SmackDown for WrestleMania 42 to be held in New Orleans, a plan the company later reversed. Though Johnson explained his absence from WrestleMania 41 as a deliberate move to give others the spotlight, the combination of failed announcements and creative differences has created a mixed reception for his 2025 run.
While the DC chapter appears closed for now, Johnson remains a formidable figure in entertainment. He is set to star in The Smashing Machine and has a project in development with director Martin Scorsese, proving that even a stumble in one universe doesn’t stop his ambitions in others.