Despite what people are currently saying, it appears that Zachary Levi has a place for James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s DCU still as Shazam. The upcoming sequel’s director David F. Sandberg says the new DC slate doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the end for Levi’s champion. In fact, should Shazam! Fury of the Gods perform well at the box office, the possibility for more it there.
The way the current trend is going for fans of the major comic-book-to-movie studio is that the new plans are steadily erasing the past line of projects. Thus, people are starting to believe that the four movies on their lineup won’t bear much significance after they end their run in the theatres.
Except for those belonging to the Elseworlds label which are Todd Phillips’ Joker 2, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the DCU is revving up for some significant changes. Fans have the impression that the last four films Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom won’t be significant.
Zachary Levi’s Shazam Has A Place In New DCU
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He definitely won’t if people don’t go see the movie. What I’ve been told is that there’s nothing in the Shazam films that contradict the future plans for DC. So the possibility for more Shazam is there and if that’s what you want your best bet is to go see the film. https://t.co/MdjZuGK4co
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) February 28, 2023
In a specific tweet that Variety reported on, the movie’s director emphasized that the sequel is not the end. In fact, there is a great load of possibilities for his story to move forward if the movie hits box office targets. Sandberg wrote:
He definitely won’t if people don’t go see the movie. What I’ve been told is that there’s nothing in the Shazam films that contradict the future plans for DC. So the possibility for more Shazam is there and if that’s what you want your best bet is to go see the film.
With this, it is not like how definite they were with Henry Cavill’s Superman. Cavill’s time as the Man of Steel is officially over, and Gunn declared he’s looking for a younger Man of Steel. As for the Wizard’s Champion, Levi’s character could just stay put. That is, if he chalks in the desired numbers by the end of his theatrical run.
Even though that condition may be standard for any character of any franchise in any major studio, fans of DC still have cause to worry. DC under Warner after the Discovery merger is unsteady, to say the least.
One decision can be made like, again, Cavill’s Superman one day, only for it to be completely scrapped the next. Remember that time when Dwayne Johnson amped up his Black Adam movie with the Last Son of Krypton’s cameo, promising a major duel in a sequel? Remember that time? That was only a few months ago.
A few weeks after saying Cavill is no longer Superman, it was Patty Jenkins’ script for Wonder Woman 3 that got the axe from the co-CEOs. Although they do seem to be keeping Gal Gadot as the daughter of Zeus, it still remains uncertain how they plan to move forward with her.
Many have the idea that if you remove Cavill as Superman and Affleck as Batman, then it doesn’t make sense to keep Gadot as Wonder Woman and Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Let alone Ezra Miller as The Flash.
More importantly, all of the above actors have a much bigger presence in the DCU than Levi’s Shazam. Compared to them, in my opinion, the Wizard’s Champion is not as significant. Because of that, he is, therefore, replaceable. Quite easily too.
But, the recent statement from the director himself allows for confidence that Levi will stay. The actor himself also addressed the change in leadership in the studio. Levi took to Instagram to say:
You have no idea the reasonings behind any of the decisions that are going on. The amount of conjecture and rumor mill and drama and nonsense that keeps getting spun around out there on Instagram and Twitter is laughable.
Zachary Levi’s Shazam Might Exist In New DCU
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
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The actor reminds the fans that the transition only needs some breathing room to gain momentum. He continues:
It is unbelievably laughable. So I would just say be patient, and give them some space and some time to try and really make something special.
Levi brings back the reality that there are things that everyone has to accept; what’s going to happen is going to happen. In his words:
Listen, I have no idea what ultimately is going to happen to me. I think I’m in a pretty good position, I think we made a great movie, I think it’s going to do well — reasonably well, I hope so. But again, regardless of that, if they decide at some point that this is the way we gotta go — them’s the breaks, that’s how it goes.
For whatever way his character goes forward into the new DC slate, it could be a good sign that the director himself says the character’s track doesn’t go against any of the developing storylines. Many can formulate their own theories and speculations, but again that will be what it is: theory and speculation.
In the meantime, Shazam! Fury of the Gods flies into theatres on March 17th.
What do you think about him moving forward in Gunn’s DC slate still as Shazam? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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