The titular antihero in Dwayne Johnson promised would impact the DCU's future. However, that didn't do well either, and Gunn and Safran took over DC Studios.
Black Adam Doesn't Have A DCU Future
Although Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam was built up to be the biggest figure in the DCU, the character now doesn't seem to have a future. Black Adam received mixed reviews, with rumors circling now that Black Adam 2 isn't moving forward. The Rock's star power makes a simple cameo or ing role unlikely, and the character currently has no confirmed future appearances in the DCU. Considering that Black Adam isn't a member of the Justice League, Dwayne Johnson's DCU path forward is very uncertain.
Black Adam's biggest future setup was a fight between Superman and Black Adam, with the film confirming that Henry Cavill was returning to the DCU after a long absence. Even if Black Adam 2 didn't happen, it was speculated that the brawl could take place in Man of Steel 2. However, that doesn't seem to be happening either, as it was announced that Henry Cavill is being recast only months after he announced his return. Instead, the next Superman film will follow a younger version of the character, seemingly acting as a prequel, although the exact continuity isn't confirmed yet.
The scariest thing regarding the future of Black Adam is that the character may not exist at all soon. One of the next DCU films is The Flash, which is rumored to have a Flashpoint-style story that will reboot the DCU. The failure of Black Adam and the lack of projects featuring the antihero means that The Flash could get rid of him entirely, erasing any trace of the character in the DCU. Whether is he is erased or simply ignored, Black Adam has no future in the DCU.
Shazam's DCU Future Is Uncertain
While he is probably safer than Black Adam, Shazam could be in some trouble soon. Shazam! movie. Billy Batson hasn't appeared in any DCU projects outside of Shazam!, meaning that he doesn't have many ties to the broader franchise. On top of that, the character has no confirmed appearances outside of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, meaning that Shazam's future after the sequel is uncertain.
The DCU's new plan seems to be keeping what works and tossing out the rest, meaning that there is potential for the Shazam! series to remain DCU canon. Shazam is a relatively minor character in the DCU, with his lack of influence meaning that he could be kept without severely disrupting Gunn and Safran's future DCU plans. Although Shazam is probably safer than Black Adam, it seems likely that Shazam's DCU future depends on the success or failure of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, with the character's future being uncertain until then.
Henry Cavill's DCU Exit Means Nobody Is Safe
The DCU's Superman being recast is big news on its own, but the implications of this big decision could be even bigger. Henry Cavill was beloved as Superman, with the original Man of Steel having a major following. Superman is also DC's most iconic Superhero, meaning that Henry Cavill's Superman acted as the face of the DCU. The fact that Superman is being recast despite his popularity and him being played by a beloved actor means that nobody is safe. If they're willing to recast and reboot Henry Cavill's Superman, they're willing to do it to anybody, especially lesser-known characters like Shazam and Black Adam.
Henry Cavill's DCU exit was also announced only two months after his grand return in Black Adam, meaning that recency may not be a factor in who stays and who goes in the DCU. Even though Black Adam just happened, Cavill is already gone, and Black Adam 2 may have already been tossed out. So, even though Shazam! Fury of the Gods still isn't out yet, the Shazam! franchise could quickly be rebooted soon after the sequel hits theaters. With Henry Cavill's Superman being gone, anyone else could get cut as well.
Black Adam Vs. Shazam Would Have Never Worked In The First Place
While some may be disappointed that the Black Adam and Shazam fight isn't happening now, it actually would never have worked in the first place. Shazam! and Black Adam are both so tonally different that the two series just wouldn't have meshed well in a crossover film. If the fight occurred in Black Adam 2, it would be strange to have the hero as the guest star. It probably would never happen in a Shazam! movie, as it doesn't seem likely that The Rock would play second fiddle to Zachary Levi. On top of that, The Rock often specifies that he can't lose fights in his contracts, possibly ruining the fight.
Another big reason that the Black Adam vs. Shazam wouldn't work has to do with the story. The DCU's Black Adam is an antihero rather than a villain, with the change being made in order for Black Adam to star in his own movie. However, this change means that Shazam has no real reason to ever fight Black Adam. While something could be made up, it would probably feel arbitrary, obviously being forced just so that the fight could occur. Black Adam and Shazam! may have their fans, but a crossover fight just wouldn't have worked, and it will probably never happen now.
