In Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the DCEU could pull off the most fun way to bring back Henry Cavill's Superman. Notably, the first movie ended with Superman visiting Shazam (Zachary Levi) at their school's cafeteria - but the scene didn't show Superman's face. It has since been revealed that the man in the suit was actor Ryan Handler, Zachary Levi's stunt double in Shazam! Following the announcement of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, viewers are curious about whether Cavill's Superman could actually return in the upcoming DC movie.
The idea of Henry Cavill reprising his role as Superman raises a lot of questions, especially after it seemed like a different actor would be taking on the role, as well as rumors about Cavill rejecting a potential return. Perhaps the biggest question is how the DCEU can properly set up such a highly-anticipated moment. In order for the surprise to work, it can't happen in a movie where Superman is the main feature, which makes it plausible that Cavill has a cameo in Shazam 2. Nothing in the Shazam! Fury of the Gods trailer suggests that Superman is involved in the sequel all - but revealing something as big as Henry Cavill's DCEU return would've wasted the surprise. In fact, Superman's complete absence in the trailer, despite the rest of the Justice League getting their own short clips, only further fuels the rumors about Shazam 2's DCEU cameo being none other than Henry Cavill.
Most importantly, Shazam 2 already has the best way to do justice to the return of Cavill's Superman through a repeat of Shazam!'s headless Superman cameo - only this time, the camera needs to pan up and show viewers that the actor is indeed back in the role. This would be an understated and satisfying way to pull off what would be the DCEU's biggest reveal of 2022. Given the sequel's plot, Shazam 2 featuring the return of Superman could give the reveal just the right amount of humor and gravitas.
Why Shazam 2 Would Be The Best Way To Re-Reveal Henry Cavill As Superman
Apart from being a fun surprise cameo that's worthy of the character, Superman's return in Shazam! Fury of the Gods would also give viewers more hope for the DCEU's currently limited future lineup. As the Shazam 2 trailer shows, Billy is at a point where he is questioning his own relevance as a superhero, which is something Superman has some experience with. Going down this path not only pays tribute to Billy Batson and Superman's long comic book history, it could potentially help DC to finally fill the Doomsday-sized hole that Zack Snyder's Justice League left behind.
Shazam Vs Superman: Who Would Win?
Though Shazam and Superman are considered to be equals in terms of raw power and durability, Shazam has the advantage because his powers are based on magic - one of the Kryptonian's few true vulnerabilities. Shazam is one of the few characters who can withstand a punch from an enraged Superman without even wincing, and Shazam has even knocked Superman out. While Shazam and Superman's fights have always been epic, they have mostly been allies to one another. In the comics, Shazam and Superman, together with Batman, survived being dragged to Hell by the sorcerer Faust. When Billy Batson went to the Titans Academy where an incident caused him to lose his powers mid-flight, he was saved by Superman. In fact, Billy and the Shazam Family are actually deeply connected to the Justice League in DC Comics.
Shazam & Superman's DCEU Future
Shazam 2 can begin the process of the DCEU taking a deeper dive into both Shazam and Superman's history, and this needs to start with a fun return for Henry Cavill's Superman. While Superman's faceless DC cameos were funny, it's time to give audiences the real thing and give Cavill his comeback. What's more, Shazam's childish optimism in the face of grave threats is exactly what DC needs to make its future Superman stories more inspiring and optimistic, which are largely what's been missing from the Kryptonian's solo movies. Billy's newfound adult problems means that he needs someone who understands what it feels to have god-like powers, and how to properly use them against threats like the Daughters of Atlas. Henry Cavill returning as Superman in Shazam 2 won't just be a fun moment, it could also be a truly unexpected and exciting way to kick off the DCEU's multiverse saga.
