The Black Adam post-credits scene finally delivers on Dwayne Johnson's promise to change the hierarchy of power in the DC universe. To get into details here would be spoiling it, but it's safe to say the final stinger sets up the future of the DCEU – and we've got everything you need to know about the scene right here.
We've got the spoiler-free lowdown on just how long you should stay seated once the credits roll, so if you're currently in the theater, you can safely read the first section of our explainer. Beyond that, though, we dig into major spoilers around what the scene actually shows. Look no further for the ultimate guide to the Black Adam post-credits scene.
How many Black Adam post-credits scenes are there?
There is just one Black Adam post-credits scene. It comes after the stylized credits – and it's worth sticking around for. Once you've seen this extra scene, though, feel free to head off, as there's nothing after the main credits.
If you've watched the scene in question, scroll on for our deep dive on what it all means: though consider this your major spoiler warning for the entire film and the scene!
Black Adam post-credits scenes, explained *spoilers*
After Teth-Adam defeats big bad Ishmael, the movie has a happy ending as the anti-hero smashes the king's throne and claims the name Black Adam. But he's been on Amanda Waller's radar since the start of the movie – she sent the Justice Society of America after him, then Teth-Adam was kept in suspended animation at a Task Force X black site before breaking free. Clearly, he's on Waller's radar: and she comes to speak to him.
A drone displays Amanda to Teth-Adam via video link. She tells him he has her attention, then declares Khandaq his prison. Black Adam responds that no one on Earth can stop him, and she reminds him that she has people not from Earth at her disposal. The anti-hero challenges her to send them all and breaks Waller's drone.
We see a familiar silhouette, and out of the mist comes none other than… Superman! That's right, Henry Cavill's Superman has returned to the DCEU. He tells Black Adam that it's "been a while since anyone's made the world this nervous," most likely referring to himself – remember, Superman is the reason the original Suicide Squad was formed, and Batman spent a while trying to kill him in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Superman then tells Black Adam, "We should talk." Johnson's character smirks, and that's the end of the scene.
As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, securing Cavill's return for the movie was no small feat. Per the report, the idea to bring him into the film came during reshoots earlier in 2022. DC Films boss Walter Hamada is reported to have said no to the cameo, so Johnson went to Warner Bros. Pictures bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, who said yes. Negotiations then took place before Labor Day (September 4) and the scene itself was filmed in mid-September. That's a very tight turnaround for an October release.
Johnson has also addressed the long journey to bringing Cavill back onscreen as Superman. "We fought for years to bring you back. They always said no," he wrote on Twitter. "But to [producers Dany and Hiram Garcia] & myself "no" was not an option. We can't build out our DCEU w/out the world's greatest superhero. And fans will always come first. Welcome home. I'll see you down the road."
The scene seems to be setting up an eventual Black Adam vs. Superman showdown, which Johnson has teased. "We will create Black Adam for him to be the most powerful and unstoppable force on this planet," the actor told Jake's Takes. "The most powerful and unstoppable force in the entire universe has been on the side lines for too long." Whether that film ever materializes remains to be seen, but Warner Bros. is reportedly keen on getting Cavill back for a second Superman solo movie – and Cavill has now confirmed his return and teased more to come in the future.
"I wanted to make it official that I am back as Superman," Cavill said in a video posted to Instagram. "And the image you see on this post and what you saw in Black Adam are just a very small taste of things to come. So there's a lot to be thankful for, and I'll get to that in time, but I wanted to thank you guys most of all. Thank you for your support and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded."
Plus, Johnson has said that a Black Adam vs. Superman showdown isn't coming straightaway. "That's definitely not the next step," he wrote on Twitter. "We have a lot more long term storytelling to do before that historic DCEU showdown and more new characters to establish."
It's unclear at the moment, then, if we'll be seeing Black Adam again in a direct sequel, but more from the character certainly seems to be on the cards. It might not be in a straightforward sequel that we next see Teth-Adam, either, but instead in a DC crossover of some kind – potentially including Superman too.
For more on Black Adam, be sure to read our explainers on:
- The Black Adam ending explained
- All the Black Adam cameos explained
- Is Henry Cavill starring in a new Superman movie?
- Henry Winkler's Black Adam cameo explained
- The Justice Society of America's comic-book history
- When is Black Adam on streaming?
- When does Black Adam take place on the DC timeline?
- How to watch the DC movies in order
- All the new superhero movies heading your way
