Update Noon EDT: And that didn't take long to build, as Variety has some more details, though again, these are sourced and now directly from Warner Brothers. The trade reports that Darren Lemke is writing the script of Shazam, with Dwayne Johnson listed as the star, playing the role of Black Adam. They describe the character as "more of an anti-hero trying to clear his name than a villain." They say that Lemke's hiring is a new one, but that the film may be fast-tracked once he's finished with the script.

So much for a fully inter-connected DC Cinematic Universe.

With New Line Cinema set to produce the upcoming film adaptation of the DC comics title "Shazam," rather than Warner Bros. Pictures, it probably shouldn't be as surprising as it is to hear the news that "Shazam" will NOT tie into the larger cinematic universe in which "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Justice League" interconnect.

New Line president Toby Emmerich spoke with Entertainment Weekly today, and he revealed why that is the case:.

"It feels to me like Shazam will have a tone unto itself. It's a DC comic, but it's not a Justice League character, and it's not a Marvel comic. The tone and the feeling of the movie will be different from the other range of comic book movies. (It) will have a sense of fun and a sense of humor. But the stakes have to be real."

Asked about the hiring of Dwayne Johnson as the villain Black Adam, Emmerich says:

"Black Adam is a complex character. The villain in superhero movies is often, I think, what makes the movie. And I thought Dwayne's take on the character, and the way that he saw Black Adam, was really compelling and fun."

Warners has distributed all of the recent DC Comics adaptations thus far and in more recent comics Shazam is a member of the Justice League, making his absence rather strange. Then again, Warners is developing a "Sandman" film that isn't expected to tie in with the DCU either.