While Black Adam may have been removed from the studio’s release slate, nothing seems to be slowing down its production. Recently, we got the news of Egyptian goddess Isis being added to the film. There are also rumors of popular Justice Society of America villain Eclipso making an appearance. With just a few known character spots left to fill, many have begun to wonder who may fill the antagonist role in the movie about one of DC’s most powerful antagonists.
It’s being reported that WB has their eyes on Marwan Kenzari to play the films main antagonist Sabbac. The villain had three different comic iterations over the years, but the film will focus on Ishmael Gregor. He is the most well-known identity of Sabbac for the few that read his short run. He was a Russian immigrant, who made his way to New York, where he becomes a mob boss. Ishmael initiates a demonic ritual in which he sacrifices many innocent people to gain the powers of Sabbac. This is actually an acronym for the six that gives him his power, Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis. This is quite similar to how Shazam#s name in the comic derives from six immortal elders. Those were Solmon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.
It seems highly likely that they could be combining some elements from the film. It seems they are changing his powers though, as Illuminerdi pointed out that there will be a crown of Sabbac. This may help them keep a PG rating instead of going into the satanistic origins of the characters abilities. The casting of Kenzari also moves away from the characters’ Russian background. He is described as a descendent of a “murdered pharaoh” so they could connect him to Adam’s past.
Black Adam currently has no release date, set to be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and will star Dwayne Johnson, Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge, and Sarah Shahis
Source: Illuminerdi
