Black Adam has his own theme tune much like every other superhero. Grammy-winning composer Lorne Balfe has debuted his furious theme song for DC Comics’ next anti-hero epic. In the highly anticipated picture, Dwayne Johnson plays Teth Adam, 5,000 years after he was granted abilities by the gods of ancient Egypt. He has been imprisoned in a tomb ever since he failed to use his gifts for good. Adam, fueled by vengeance and intent on meting out evil justice to the world, finally finds his equal in the form of the Justice Society of America (JSA). The DC Extended Universe has offered fans another glimpse of the anti-hero in the lead-up to the film’s premiere.
The nearly four-minute theme from Mission Impossible: Fallout and Black Widow composer and writer Balfe focuses on Adam’s personal experience. The music both subtly and audaciously alludes to Adam’s “born out of wrath” origin myth by providing context for his long and storied past. It is everywhere, roaring with a tumultuous intensity that reaches into Adam’s palpable darkness and his enduring brightness. The track’s aggressive tone is echoed in the title, yet it also has heroic conviction.
Composer Balfe elaborated on his inspiration for the tune, saying: “It was fun to dive into the Black Adam subject, and I tried to do justice to his status as the anti-hero of the DC Comics universe. The soundtrack as a whole had a robust brass section that conveyed the main character’s tragic backstory; I countered this with faster, more melodic sounds to evoke a more universally reassuring sense of heroism.” With less than a month until Black Adam’s release, the anthem arrives just in time. The picture, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, is a departure for Johnson, who has excelled in comedic and action roles such as the Fast and Furious series and Jumanji.
The movie hasn’t just been getting people excited because of Johnson’s electrifying performance, but also because the JSA, which has a long and storied history in DC Comics, are finally making their long-awaited film debut. Stars like Aldis Hodge (Hawkman), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Pierce Brosnan (Doctor Fate), Noah Centineo (Atom Smasher), Marwan Kenzari (Sabbac), and Quintessa Swindell (Cyclone) are all set to feature in Black Adam.
On October 21, moviegoers may see Black Adam.