In April 2014, Warner Bros. revealed their upcoming slate of films based on DC Comics properties: Shazam!, Metal Men, Fables, and 100 Bullets.[35] The Shazam! film was tentatively set for release in July 2016.[36] Dwayne Johnson stated he would be starring in Shazam! that August, but was undecided between portraying Shazam or Black Adam.[37] In September, Johnson was cast as Black Adam, while Darren Lemke was set to write the script.[20] In January 2017, Henry Gayden was hired to rewrite Lemke's script.[38] In February 2017, David F. Sandberg was in talks with the studio to direct Shazam!,[39] while Dwayne Johnson was set to star in a Black Adam solo film, as opposed to appearing as the villain in Shazam!,[40] while Doctor Sivana, another nemesis of Shazam, became the Shazam! film's main villain.[41]