Tragic Details About The Black Adam Cast

The following article contains references to suicide, addiction, mental illness, and domestic violence

The superhero genre is more popular than ever. Comic book stans flock to movie theaters to marvel (pun intended) at larger than life figures ridding the world of its evils. The New York Times argues that superhero films are the most ubiquitous in the history of cinema, symptomatic of an increasing need for escapism: "If heroes are idealized humans, then today's reflect an exaggerated Cult of Self. They are unique, supremely talented beings who transcend laws, even those of nature."

Of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be the most prominent franchise, but the D.C. Extended Universe is gaining traction in Hollywood. From the recent Robert Pattinson incarnation of "Batman" to "The Suicide Squad," big budget D.C. flicks are on the rise. And a highly anticipated addition to these adaptations is "Black Adam," a spin-off of 2019's "Shazam!" A revenge film with some comedic elements, "Black Adam" stars Dwayne Johnson as an antihero intent on saving the world through unconventional means. In 2020, the erstwhile Rock topped Forbes' list of the biggest Hollywood earners, and delving into the highly sought after comic book genre will no doubt add handsomely to his burgeoning bank balance. 

Just like a number of Marvel actors have endured tragedy and misadventure, the stars of D.C. adaptations aren't immune to personal turmoil. "Black Adam" is no exception. From overcoming loss to channeling strife into stand-up, these are the tragic details about the "Black Adam" cast.

For many years, Sarah Shahi was best known for her television work, notably as Carmen on "The L Word." Now that she's had a career breakthrough, largely thanks to her role as Billie on "Sex/Life," Shahi is venturing onto the big screen. In "Black Adam," she plays superhero Adrianna Tomaz, a gutsy college professor, per The Wrap.

Shahi had a difficult start in life. A descendant of the Shah of Iran, her father was almost executed during the Iranian Revolution, as he was working for the American embassy. "My dad was on the hit list and he and my mother were allowed to flee the country," she told the New York Post. In Texas, where she grew up, Shahi was frequently subjected to racist taunts. Her birth name is Aahoo and kids would call her "Achoo" or "Wahoo." As the actor recounted, "I would try to play it off with the other kids and laugh. Inside I was dying."

At home, things were no easier for Shahi. Her father was abusive and addicted to alcohol, gambling, and drugs. When she was five-years-old, she and her mom fled in the middle of the night, per People. "I didn't pack anything; I just had my pajamas," she said. "It was January, and it was cold as we headed to a women's shelter in nearby Arlington, Texas." Without the help of the shelter, Shahi said, she and her mother likely would have been dead.

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In recent years, acting vet and erstwhile 007 Pierce Brosnan has been keen to venture out of his cinematic comfort zone, appearing in films such as "Cinderella" and, of course, the "Mama Mia" adaptations, featuring his much maligned singing skills. He continues with these eclectic choices with "Black Adam." The D.C. flick sees him play Doctor Fate.

Despite that ever present twinkle in the charming Irishman's eye, he has endured ineffable tragedy. In 1986, Brosnan's wife, Cassandra Harris, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, per Interview Magazine. After living with the illness for five years, she died aged just 43. Speaking with People months after Harris' death, Brosnan admitted that he struggled to deal with the aftermath of the loss. "There is an incredible cruelty in it all, losing a person you shared everything with," he said. "This is the first time in my life I've ever experienced bereavement, and it's overwhelming."

In an interview with Playboy, Brosnan opened up about the pain of watching his beloved wife slowly slip away, her illness essentially meaning that she was gone before she was actually gone. "The dialysis was brutal," the actor said. "Finally I said, 'Stop it' ... You want to get them back just to say good-bye, but I realized we'd already said our good-byes." Tragically, Harris' daughter Charlotte, whom Brosnan adopted, died of the same illness years later, per People. She was just two years younger than her mom, leaving behind her young children.

Up-and-coming star Quintessa Swindell is ready to wow fans with their turn as superhero Cyclone in "Black Adam," per The Hollywood Reporter. As a nonbinary person of color, Swindell struggled to fit in when they were growing up.

In an interview with Observer, they discussed the difficulties they faced growing up in the South, being raised by a single father. "Being a Black non-binary person in and of itself was the hardest thing, especially growing up in Virginia where it's like, 'Oh, I'm too Black for this group, [but] I'm too white for this group' ... So, it was constantly ebbing and flowing between who I was at the time and what I felt comfortable with," they said. It wasn't until Swindell moved to New York that they realized they weren't alone, since trans and nonbinary identities were stigmatized in their home state and rarely discussed. 

Citing "Orange Is the New Black" star Laverne Cox as a trans pioneer, Swindell acknowledged that Hollywood is guilty of perpetuating bigotry, but they nonetheless believe real change is on the horizon. Accordingly, Swindell has emphasized the importance of nonbinary and trans representation in the media, since they didn't see anyone who represented them on television when they were growing up. "It's starkly different from what I grew up watching ... I think these changes represent this generation's desire to live authentically more than ever ... and to realize what harm can be done if we're not inspired to make change," they told Hunger.

Comedian Mo Amer is known for tickling our funny bones with his Netflix stand-up special, but now he's venturing into the D.C. Extended Universe with a top secret role (as of this writing) in "Black Adam," per Deadline. As a funnyman, Amer uses humor to cope with his harrowing past.

At the age of nine, he and his family were forced to flee Kuwait due to the Gulf War and relocated to Houston, Texas. "We lost everything overnight," he told Al Jazeera. "Banks were shut down, everything was gone." Then, when he was just 14, his dad died, which led to him truanting from school. Appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," he said that he began working in a flag store as a teen and was subjected to racist abuse from customers. This worsened in the aftermath of 9/11; as Amer told Texas Monthly, he began feeling unsafe as a Muslim and joked that he would pretend to be Italian to ease people's preconceived suspicions about him.

Though born in Kuwait, Amer is of Palestinian extraction. Initially, the displacement he faced as a refugee led to immense anger, but he has tried to channel it in a positive manner, namely through creative pursuits. "As Palestinians, we have no other choice. What else are you going to do?" he asked The Guardian. "I went through an angry phase and I still get angry. I'm a human being. But if you're angry, you can't think straight."

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Jennifer Holland is no stranger to the D.C. Extended Universe, having played Emilia Harcourt in "The Suicide Squad," which was directed by her husband James Gunn, and "Peacemaker." In an interview with The Direct, her co-star Steve Agee confirmed a long-standing rumor that Holland will be added to the expanding ensemble cast of "Black Adam."

Behind the scenes, she couldn't be more dissimilar from the often callous Harcourt. The loss of her parents affected Holland profoundly and she has been emotionally candid when discussing her multiple traumas. "I grew up in a family where there was a lot of alcoholism ... I didn't want to see myself have the same struggles," she told Talk Nerdy With Us. Despite this discordant family life, it was thanks to her mom that she became an actor, per The Hollywood Reporter. But tragically, both her parents died many years ago. "There is a hole in our lives, where you once were, and that hole can never be filled ... just want to hear your voice- one more time," she wrote in a moving Instagram tribute to her mom.

She may have lost her parents, but the actor revealed that she found a surrogate father figure in her husband's dad, Jim Gunn. Tragically, she also lost Jim, who died in 2019, per Schrader. "You have changed my life, Jim," Holland wrote in a eulogy to Gunn Sr. "I love you, and I am so blessed to have no question about how much you loved me."

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Dwayne Johnson is the son of Rocky Johnson, a renowned wrestler and pioneer: As one half of the first ever Black tag-team champions in the WWE, he paved the way for people of color within the industry, per CBC. Dwayne was close with his dad, but the pair's bond was strained at times, mainly due to the Johnson patriarch's strict parenting. "It was incredibly complicated and it was incredibly tough," Dwayne said at an NBC press tour, per People, adding that the relationship was "fueled by tough love." Despite their difficulties, they partnered for Wrestlemania 13, whereby Rocky came to The Rock's rescue following a post-bout beat down. At the end of the match, the pair sweetly embraced.

Sadly, Rocky died in 2020, aged 75, per BBC. His sudden death came as a shock to his son. "I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to him. I'd give anything right now to give him a big old hug and a big old kiss before he crossed over and just say thank you and I love you," Dwayne said in a heartbreaking Instagram video. "But I didn't get a chance to say that." 

He went on to reveal that Rocky died of a blood clot that traveled to his lung. Accordingly, he explained, his father was killed quickly and likely didn't suffer, which provided him with immense comfort despite never having the chance to say goodbye. "That's my old man, he was always quick," he poignantly joked.