Shazam 2, also known as Shazam! Fury of the Gods, will be in theaters this December to warm the hearts of DCEU fans everywhere. The family-friendly adventure features Zachary Levi in his spandex super suit once more, playing the powerful alter ego of young Billy Batson (Asher Angel). But while Billy seems to have finally found a home with his now-powered foster siblings, doubts about the future still haunt him.
If that weren't enough, the Daughters of Atlas (played by big screen powerhouses Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu) literally want him dead. With his best friend and foster brother Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) - not to mention the entire set of foster siblings - by his side, Billy will save his family from the fury of the gods or at least go down fighting. Either way, Shazam 2 is sure to be a fun time for audiences everywhere.
While at San Diego Comic-Con, Screen Rant spoke to young stars Angel and Grazer, as well as director David F. Sandberg, about why the Shazam sequel is about to be even bigger and better than its already beloved predecessor. Watch the videos below and read selected quotes from the interviews!
How does it feel to be back for the sequel?
Asher Angel: It feels incredible. People have been waiting for this movie. It's bigger, it's better, and there's more action-packed scenes. It's literally everything you want in a superhero movie. There's so much heart, and there's so much fun. It's such a fun movie, so I think come summertime, people are really going to be excited to see it. Get ready.
What's changed for you? Where do we find you at the beginning of the movie?
Asher Angel: When you find Billy, he's living the great life. He's been with his family for quite some time now. But I think something that's a little worrisome to him is the future. He doesn't know what's gonna happen when he's 18. He doesn't know if he has to leave the foster home, so I think the unknown of what the future looks like is definitely scary.
His main focus is just doing everything together as a family, because he's living the life he's always wanted and more. He's afraid that if that comes to an end, then what's next?
How is he navigating having the family as part of the team?
Asher Angel: He's all for it. No, he's all for it. He loves it. It's just that relationships are changing. The kids are interested in other things, and he's kind of like the middle person that's trying to navigate all of it and keep everyone invested and doing this together.
Why are the gods so furious?
Asher Angel: That is a good question. I really can't tell you. The wizard is up there, and he's all for Shazam, I guess. Gave me superpowers, I don't know why. People are mad, and they're just jealous. He's jealous. Everyone's jealous. That's all.
You got the powers that you've always wanted, we saw that at the end of Shazam. What's your deal this movie? What's your struggle?
Jack Dylan Grazer: It might be one of the final years of high school, and there's the internal battle of teenage pubescent hormone growth and the strangulation of all those feelings. And also having to bury down this superhero identity at 16 or something; there's a battle there.
I want to show it off. I want to not be a loser; I want to show people that I am a superhero, and not just a kid with a crutch or a walking joke. There's that struggle, but Freddy is still the same mischief maker that he's always gonna be.
Do you think Freddy knows Superman at this point? What happened during that conversation?
Jack Dylan Grazer: I think it's one of those things where, like, I can say that I know The Rock because I just met him. It's like that. It's that exact dynamic. I just met The Rock for the first time - super sick. He's one of my favorite wrestlers. I grew up loving WWE or WWF and all that stuff. He was my favorite.
Why are the gods so furious?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Because Helen Mirren is jealous of my body and my looks. And also because we have something that they don't. My love handles!
We have our villainesses, Helen and Lucy. What was it like bringing them into this cast?
David F. Sandberg: I mean, it's a dream come true, first of all. I've been watching movies with Lucy and Helen, and now I get to work with them - which is just amazing. They're just the best. When we had these three parts, we were like, "Let's try and get the biggest and best actresses we can." And we were able to, because they said yes. It's amazing.
Do we know who Rachel Zegler is playing?
David F. Sandberg: Kind of. We had to give away that she has powers as well; that she's a goddess. But there's still some twists and turns with her character that we're saving for the movie.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods Synopsis
Shazam takes on the villainous Hespera and Kalypso, daughters of the Greek titan Atlas.
Catch our other DCEU interview from San Diego Comic-Con with the cast of Black Adam, and check out our previous Shazam interviews with star Zachary Levi and Asher Angel.