One of the JSA’s greatest heroes is about to take flight!

As reported today by The Hollywood Reporter, actor Aldis Hodge is in final negotiations to join the cast of Black Adam as Hawkman, the iconic winged superhero who celebrated his 80^th anniversary this year. Hawkman is the second member of Black Adam’s Justice Society of America to be cast, following on the heels of Noah Centineo who landed the role of Atom Smasher earlier this year. The JSA is, of course, the predecessor group to the well-known Justice League and historically features DC’s Golden Age-era heroes.

While details about Black Adam’s Hawkman remain unknown, the character is best identified by his distinct wings, hawk-like helmet and signature battle mace. Debuting in 1940’s Flash Comics #1, Hawkman was originally an Ancient Egyptian prince who was cursed and found himself reincarnating over millennia and on various worlds—notably the alien world of Thanagar, where he served as a police officer. Today, Hawkman is embodied by archaeologist Carter Hall, who harnesses the mysterious anti-gravity Nth Metal, which he controls mentally and which allows him to fly.

Black Adam made a memorable appearance recently at DC FanDome: Hall of Heroes, where star Dwayne Johnson teased the movie with an eye-catching motion comic and revealed at least some of the members of Black Adam's JSA (along with Hawkman and Atom Smasher it also includes the still-to-be-cast Doctor Fate and Cyclone). Set within the DC movie universe, Black Adam has been anticipated by DC fans since 2019’s Shazam!, which first teased the iconic antihero. The movie’s directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who recently directed Jungle Cruise and which also stars Johnson. Beau Flynn, Dany Garcia and Johnson are all producing, while Scott Sheldon will serve as executive producer.

Hodge recently starred in the acclaimed Regina King movie One Night in Miami, as well as the hit Invisible Man remake. Previously, he was seen in 2017’s Hidden Figures, 2016’s Straight Outta Compton and in TV series like City on a Hill, Turn, Black Mirror, Underground and Leverage. While Hodge is no stranger to action and to genre fare, Hawkman will be his first role as a big screen superhero.

Black Adam is due in theaters on December 22, 2021.

UPDATE: Johnson took to Instagram to welcome Hodge to the role as only he can. Check it out here!