Shazam! star Zachary Levi addresses his character's future following some major shake-ups at DC Studios. Released in 2019, Levi's debut film as the superhero proved popular with fans and critics alike. Director David F. Sandberg is set to bring the hero back once more in the upcoming sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which is due out next spring. The first trailer for the sequel has already teased a bigger, bolder adventure, with Levi's hero facing off against the daughters of Atlas. However, the character's future beyond the sequel is largely unknown.
With Peter Safran and James Gunn now in charge of DC Studios' overarching creative direction, the futures of many projects and characters are up in the air, with no confirmation yet regarding which legacy characters will live on under this new leadership. During a recent appearance at Comic Con Portugal, as shared by Leonardo Oliveira on Twitter, Levi comments on Shazam's future in the DCU, expressing hope that the hero's time is not at an end just yet. Check out Levi's full comment below:
"I’m sure most of you know who James Gunn is, because he’s made all kinds of incredible movies and television shows, like Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad and stuff. So he’s one of my bosses now, which is dope. Also, he’s a friend of mine, so that makes him even cooler. And then Peter Safran, who is his partner, is my producer - he produces the movie Shazam!. So your question is, ‘If those are my two bosses, is there a plan and a future for Shazam?’ I would say ‘Yeah, I would hope so. I would hope so.’ Because those are my friends, and if they don’t have a plan, then they are not my friends anymore. No, sir."
What Could Be Next For Shazam
Currently, the only confirmed upcoming appearance for Levi's hero is Shazam! Fury of the Gods. When asked earlier this year if there's any chance of a third movie getting the green light, Levi said that Shazam! 3 will depend on the box office performance of the upcoming sequel, but that was well before Gunn and Safran stepped into leadership positions at DC Studios. The duo is said to be developing a 10-year plan for the DCU, which may or may not include heroes like Henry Cavill's version of Superman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, and Ezra Miller's Flash.
With these big heroes currently in limbo, it's fair to assume that Levi's take on Shazam is in a similar position, though his closeness with Gunn and Safran certainly bodes well for his character's future. Considering the first Shazam! was so well-received and was a success at the box office, it seems likely that Levi's hero could play a larger role in stories to come, especially since he hasn't really interacted with other more popular DC superheroes yet. It's unclear, however, if Shazam will have a larger role in the DCU in the form of a third solo movie, or if he will star alongside other heroes in a team-up movie akin to Justice League.
Although Gunn and Safran will likely end up making some sweeping changes as the new creative leads for DC Studios, it is hard to imagine that they will abandon projects and characters that have proven so popular with fans. Shazam doesn't carry as much baggage as other recent DCU heroes like Cavill's Superman or Ben Affleck's Batman because he is almost entirely disconnected from the issues involving the Zack Snyder's Justice League continuity and the SnyderVerse, meaning Levi's character may actually be one of the safer bets when it comes to DC's future on the big screen. For now, however, Shazam! fans are guaranteed at least one more outing from Levi's popular hero.
Source: Leonardo Oliveira/Twitter
