The VFX Blueprint of Black Adam: The Scanline VFX and Eyeline Approach
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Over the course of thousands of years, Black Adam has established himself as one of the most influential magic wielders, seamlessly navigating between heroism and villainy.
Black Adam introduces a new perspective on DC’s cinematic universe, blending elements of myth and modern heroism into a cohesive narrative. The film tracks the story of Teth-Adam, an ancient figure granted immense powers in Kahndaq, who becomes an unexpected force in the present day. After centuries in confinement, Black Adam returns to a world where he must contend with emerging heroes like the Justice Society while grappling with his own formidable abilities.
Central to the film’s visual identity is the work of Scanline VFX, which employed advanced simulation methods to create carefully orchestrated destruction sequences, energy phenomena, and refined fluid and particle effects. This focus on realism ensures that Black Adam’s powers, while extraordinary, appear both believable and visually coherent. In parallel, Eyeline Studios - a division of Scanline - contributed extensive support during production. Through detailed previs sequences and animatics, they used tools like volume capture to align camera movements and performance data early on. This approach ensured a streamlined integration between physical sets and digital elements during the film’s high-intensity action scenes.
“Black Adam” arrived in theaters and IMAX on October 19, 2022, internationally, followed by a North American release on October 21. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it achieved a notable domestic opening of $67 million, marking Dwayne Johnson’s highest-grossing debut outside his roles in the Fast & Furious franchise. This result also surpasses previous DC benchmarks, such as Shazam! and its $57 million launch, and stands as the most significant DC opening since Aquaman in 2018, excluding Batman-related titles.
With a reported production budget of around $195 million - Black Adam signals Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Films’ continued investment in large-scale comic book adaptations. The combined efforts of Scanline VFX and Eyeline Studios highlight how strategic previsualization, precise digital effects, and measured storytelling can come together to shape a film that balances spectacle with narrative consistency.