Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ new demi-god villain Hespera explained. The great Helen Mirren has officially been cast in the role of Hespera in the DC movie sequel. Billy Batson will have his hands full as the kid-turned-adult superhero will square off against a new villain with plans that will likely cause some mayhem. Mirren has been adding a lot more big-budget action films to her already impressive filmography, having starred in The Fate of the Furious, Hobbs & Shaw, the upcoming F9, and in the movie adaptation of DC’s Red and its sequel Red 2.
Shazam! saw Billy Batson and his superhero alter ego dealing with new powers and a villain who wanted to steal Billy’s powers for himself. In Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Billy will be up against a new kind of villain, one who is likely far more formidable foe than Sivana ever was. While plot details are currently under wraps, it has been announced Mirren will play Hespera, the daughter of the god Atlas. What Hespera is plotting and what she’s after remains to be seen, but it’s apt that a goddess has been cast considering the title of the sequel.
But, who exactly is Hespera and how will Mirren’s role shake things up in Shazam 2? Here’s everything to know about the character and her backstory.
Who Is Hespera?
Hespera is the daughter of Atlas and will reportedly be the sister to Rachel Zegler’s character, whose name and backstory remain unknown for the time being. Hespera and her sister are described as having possibly ill intentions, according to the casting announcement, though where their loyalties ultimately lie remains unclear. However, this interpretation suggests Hespera may not actually be a full-fledged villain, but rather someone who is undecided or plays both sides of the good-vs-evil debate if it means she gets something out of it. This ambiguity sounds better than Hespera being a one-note villain and allows Mirren to play the role with some mystery involved, likely tricking the audience into thinking her character is a villain, but one who might have the best of intentions at first.
Hespera’s Comics Origin & Powers Explained
This is the tricky part because Hespera doesn’t actually have a DC counterpart, so there isn’t any direct information one can glean from the comic book pages about her or her history. Being the daughter of Atlas, however, reveals a bit more about her by association. In Greek mythology, Atlas has three nymph daughters who are collectively known as the Hesperides (aka, the Nymphs of the West, Daughters of the Evening, or Atlantides, after their father) and were responsible for giving off light at sunset. Depending on the myth, the number of sisters ranged from anywhere between three to seven, with Hespera typically being included. Together, the sisters tended a garden and protected the golden apple tree. They didn’t get up to much trouble or adventure outside of that.
Besides being Atlas’ daughter and one of the Hesperides, Hespera is known as the goddess of immortality and is relatively neutral on the scale of good and evil. DC Comics and its movies have heavily leaned into the existence of Greek gods. Wonder Woman included Ares and referenced Zeus. Meanwhile, Shazam’s own powers are a mixture of six gods and their attributes, which includes Atlas’ stamina. With the description that Hespera may or may not have bad intentions, one can surmise that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is giving some of Atlas’ characteristics to his daughter.
While Hespera herself is not featured in the comics, Atlas has shown up on several occasions throughout the years. The god is portrayed as being sometimes good or bad, depending on the storyline. This falls in line with Hespera’s Shazam 2 description, which hints that she may or may not have bad intentions. What’s more, Atlas’ comic book counterpart has superhuman strength and invulnerability, which is likely what Hespera will possess as well in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Atlas doesn’t have any daughters in the comics, but DC’s films and TV shows have been known to change stories and characters depending on the plot.
What Helen Mirren’s Villain Brings To Shazam 2
Mirren is a fantastic actress who brings nuance to each of her roles. She’s got a wide range of film credits to her name and will no doubt bring her talent and experience to the role of Hespera in Shazam! Fury of the Gods. In the first film, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana was the primary antagonist. Sivana was a scientist and a regular human, whereas Hespera is most certainly not. Her presence will likely prove a bigger challenge to Billy and his superhero crew. Plus, Mirren’s villain, being a demi-god and all, will probably offer a touch more of the gods’ mythology as it pertains to Shazam! and the DCEU, which seems to be delving more into this lore. Through Hespera, Fury of the Gods could further explore the gods and how they operate. Surely there’s a more expansive world that has yet to be tapped into and Hespera may be the gateway to developing Shazam’s mythology.
Perhaps Billy will learn more about the source of his powers. But, what can be surmised is that Hespera’s story will likely connect with Zegler’s unknown character and, together, they’ll be shaking things up for Billy. Considering the title of the Shazam! sequel includes the fury of multiple gods, it’s possible the titular hero will infuriate them by accidentally stealing something from Hespera and her sisters’ garden. After all, not only did they tend to the golden apple tree in mythology (a gift given to Hera, Zeus’ wife), but the Hesperides also protected a good amount of the gods’ most treasured artifacts. Conversely, Hespera might be annoyed that a kid received the stamina of Atlas and wants it for herself. There are so many ways the plot could use Hespera and whichever way Shazam! Fury of the Gods goes about it will likely include her and her three sisters.
