As rumor had, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been working with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. on a Shazam movie for several years, and that he was offered his choice of playing the virtuous Shazam or his nemesis, Black Adam.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Johnson confirmed that all of that is true, and revealed why he ultimately chose to play Black Adam.

“It’s a mythology that I love,” Johnson says. “It’s been with me for almost 10 years now. What made me choose Black Adam is was, I just felt like Black Adam was inherently more interesting to me, because I felt like there were more layers to Black Adam, starting out as a slave, then ultimately becoming the anti-hero that we know today. But I’ve always said that’s got to be earned.”

Johnson went on to say that at one point, in 2007 or 2008, he decided to take to social media and ask the fans who they would rather see him play. Black Adam won that vote, perhaps ultimately tipping Johnson in the character’s favor for good.