In 2019, the DC Extended Universe introduced a new hero to its ranks with the release of SHAZAM! — a live-action adaptation of the comic about a teen, played by Asher Angel, who is granted the ability to transform into a fully grown superhero bearing a resemblance to Zachary Levi. To tell this story the proper way, the filmmakers thankfully chose a more youthful, and quite goofy, perspective than we typically see in DC movies.
The family-friendly fantasy/action flick was a critical and commercial success and Warner Bros. would announce that a follow-up was in development just a week after it came out. Three years later, the theatrical release of SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS nears. So, let’s review everything that we already know about one of the most exciting upcoming DC movies.
Shazam! Fury Of The Gods Arrives March 17th
As established, DC fans have known that they would be gifted with a second SHAZAM! movie shortly after the heartwarming and highly thrilling comic book flick was released in April 2019. Just a couple of months later, a plan to start filming the sequel in mid-2020 was revealed and, in December of that year, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures would give it an initial release date of April 1, 2022. Of course, in the wake of Covid-19, all of this would change. By August of 2020, during the DC FanDome event, the film was given the official title SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS. Principal photography would finally begin in May 2021 and would wrap that August, allowing it to be moved up on the schedule from its then Summer 2023 release to this spring. The current release date for SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS is March 17, 2023.
Plot Details Are Still Under Wraps
For a long while, details about the plot of SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS were scarce. One thing we have known for sure is that the power-hungry Dr. Thaddeus Sivana would not be the main antagonist this time after Mark Strong himself confirmed in May 2021 that he would not be appearing in the sequel. In fact, our hero is facing off against a few new central villains. The sequel sees Billy Batson and his fellow super-powered siblings taking on Hespera and Kalypso — figures of ancient Greek mythology known for being daughters of the Titan, Atlas, and two of the three “Nymphs of the West.” The villains — whose earthly destruction appears to be the godly fury that the title refers to — will prove to be the greatest challenge for the Shazam family yet.
Watch The Trailer
The first SHAZAM! was a brilliant blend of heartfelt humor with exciting comic book movie action. Could DC catch lightning in a bottle a second time with SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS? Check out the trailer below for a glimpse at what’s to come:
Based on unsettling shots of global annihilation and hints that Billy Batson’s siblings have their powers stolen, SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS seems to be doing what every great superhero movie sequel does: go darker. Plus, we love the idea of the movie leaning further into its fantasy-inspired elements, but never did we expect to see Shazam fighting a dragon!
Zachary Levi Returns
Following his dazzling and hilarious performance in the original film, Zachary Levi will star in SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, reprising his role as the titular superhero previously referred to in DC comics as “Captain Marvel.” Also returning to play the teen who has to yell “Shazam!” to access his powers, Billy Batson, is Asher Angel, as well as the cast members who played his adoptive siblings and — most of — their own adult superhero counterparts.
Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody are once again sharing the role of Freddy Freeman, along with Faithe Herman and Meagan Good as Darla Dudley, Ian Chen and Ross Butler as Eugene Choi and Jovan Armand and D.J. Cotrona as Pedro Peńa. However, Grace Caroline Currey will now play both versions of Mary Bromfield instead of having Michelle Borth as her super-powered self like last time. Djimon Honsou is also returning as the wizard who gave Billy his powers — also named Shazam — and Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews are coming back to play Billy’s foster parents, Rosa and Victor Vásquez, respectively.
New Cast Members Include Helen Mirren
It is always so exciting to see an Academy Award® winner join the cast of a superhero movie and such is the case here. Dame Helen Mirren, whose last comic book adaptations were the RED movies, will star as Hespera.
Also new to the franchise is Lucy Liu as Hespera’s sister, Kalypso, and Rachel Zegler, as the goddess Athena. Liu — best known for her roles in the CHARLIE’S ANGELS movies and KILL BILL — is making her official superhero movie debut with SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, as is Zegler. The viral sensation made her feature film debut in 2021 as the female lead of Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY remake and was more recently cast in the title role of Disney’s live-action reimagining of SNOW WHITE.
Director David F. Sandberg Returns
Not only was 2019’s SHAZAM! a major turning point in the DCEU for its funnier and more child-like approach to the story, but it also saw a major shift in director David F. Sandberg’s career. The Swedish-born filmmaker first gained notoriety in 2017 with a feature-length adaptation of his viral horror short film, LIGHTS OUT, which was distributed by New Line Cinema.
The studio would later hire him to helm the CONJURING Universe spin-off ANNABELLE: CREATION before he was brought on by Warner Bros. to make one of the funniest DCEU movies yet. Since then, Sandberg has collaborated on a couple more horror shorts with his wife, actress Lotta Losten, but SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS will mark his official return to directing for the big screen.
Henry Gayden Returns As Co-Writer
Before penning the screenplay for SHAZAM! — from a story he co-wrote with Derek Lemke — Henry Gayden’s only other contribution to comic book movies was working as a production assistant on 2007’s SPIDER-MAN 3, which is also his earliest credit. The writer — also known for the Netflix original slasher, THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE — has also come back to work on the script for SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, but with a different co-writer this time.
Also credited for penning the sequel is Chris Morgan, who made his debut as a writer with the 2004 thriller, CELLULAR, and went on to write and produce several installments of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise, starting with THE FAST AND FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT in 2006. He also co-created “The Troop” for Nickelodeon and “Gang Related” for FOX and produced the hit Netflix thriller, BIRD BOX.
We cannot say that we are feeling much “fury” right now over SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, but it does have us extremely excited. The DC sequel will be here, making us laugh and putting us on the edge of our seats, before we know it! AMC Stubs Members, discover SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS in Dolby Cinema at AMC March 16th-19th and receive an exclusive comic book.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS opens March 17th
