Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
Hollywood, UNITED STATES Actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson poses after putting his hands in cement during his hand and footprints ceremony in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre in celebration of his new movie "San Andreas," in Hollywood, California May 19, 2015. Reuters/Danny Moloshok

DC comic movie “Shazam!” is now underway amidst the flops of fellow DC flicks “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad.” Showrunner Dany Garcia promised that “Shazam!” starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, won’t be affected by the series of DC mishits.

The Rock first announced in 2014 that he would star in “Shazam!” as the villain Black Adam. He will also co-produce the 2019 DC flick with Dany Garcia.

In an interview with Newsweek, Garcia expressed no concerns to audience reaction to recent DC movies. The 47-year-old explained that while “Shazam!” will exist within the established DC movie universe, their production team will have full control over this DC comic’s brand and franchise.

“We have incredible autonomy over this brand and franchise,” Garcia said. “We are working with a different team, different producers, directors… it’s a different set-up.”

Garcia also expressed that the recent DC projects, however their result was, could be of help to “Shazam!”

“We don’t feel fettered by, or constrained by, the successes or failures and challenges of the other projects,” Garcia stated. “That was a key component to our participation — that we be able to control the tone and the voice, and do it the way we want to.”

Garcia also reiterated that “Shazam!” will exist adjacently and not necessarily within the DC Universe featuring heroes Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash.

“It needs to be of the world,” says Garcia. “We’ll fit nicely within the world that’s been created, but not such a shorthand relationship. [It’ll be] enough that people say, ‘Oh, this is within the family,’ but the culture will be a little different.”

The movie, starring Johnson, will be co-produced by the Hollywood actor himself and Garcia through their Seven Bucks Productions company alongside New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Brothers.

Garcia also told the magazine that the pre-productions for “Shazam!” is underway. Currently, the scripts are being drafted and their team is working hard to "get the tone right for Black Adam, which is Dwayne’s part."

“Shazam!” is scheduled to hit US theatres on April 5, 2019. The airing date in Australia is yet to be announced.

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