'Black Adam': Noah Centineo's casting as Atom Smasher leaves fans divided as some call decision 'ridiculous'
Good news folks. We've been waiting to hear some updates about Dwayne Johnson's 'Black Adam'. On Thursday (July 17), it was announced that Noah Centineo, the charming 'To All The Boys I've Ever Loved' star, will be playing Atom Smasher, besides Johnson. As Atom Smasher isn't as well-known as other characters, here's a little information about the masked man.
Atom Smasher, whose real name Al Rothstein made his debut as Nuklon in 1983’s All-Star Squadron No. 25 as a member of Infinity Inc., a group comprising of the super-powered children of WWII superheroes, the Justice Society of America. Al had a troubled relationship with his godfather Al Pratt, the first reiteration of The Atom, and his grandfather was the sinister Cyclotron. Al learned that he had several metahuman powers, including super strength and the will to alter size and density. Filled with insecurity, Al joined the Justice Society and was determined to prove himself throughout. He assumed the superhero name of Nuklon and was also briefly a member of the Justice League briefly in the mid 1990s. However, for comic book fans, it's his time at the Justice Society as well as his relationship with Black Adam, that defines who he is today. While they initially did not get along, Adam and Albert exit the JSA together and helped each other settle personal scores.
Fans are thrilled to see this friendship come alive on screen. "Very hyped for Atom Smasher on the big screen. Hope we see more JSA connections," a fan wrote. "I’m not freaking out over the Atom Smasher casting—it’s not a character I rly care about anyways—but I think it’ll be nice to see Noah Centineo in a completely different kind of role... He could crush it, I don’t wanna be negative, so my mind is open right now," another tweeted.
Meanwhile others don't know what to feel. "Who is #NoahCentineo & why am I supposed to be pulling my hair, screaming in rage & feeling miserable over his casting as Atom Smasher in #BlackAdam?," a fan asked. "Dayummmmm! Noah Centineo has been cast as Atom Smasher for the upcoming “Black Adam” film!" a fan tweeted.
While some have expressed their reservations, others staunchly stood for Centineo. "Why are people upset over Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher? I can name at least 10 other actors that a lot of people thought were gonna be shit that ended up being great. Y'all need to stop whining and wait to see some footage because this same routine got old very fucking fast," one wrote.
"Noah Centineo is a fine casting choice for Atom Smasher. But he can’t be Atom Smasher and He-Man! You can’t have one guy play 2 characters with complete opposite design philosophies! It just doesn’t make sense!," one fan questioned.
"Why would they cast him, it's ridiculous," a fan wrote.