Six heroes obtain the powers of gods in Shazam!, but the movie may be hiding a seventh champion. This character's identity was never been hinted at in the film, but the comic books and future plans for the DC Extended Universe could indicate that the seventh champion is Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam.
Shazam! introduced magic to the DCEU in the beginning of the movie when a young Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong) is summoned to a mystical realm where he encounters the wizard, Shazam (Djimon Hounsou), who explains that he's searching for someone pure of heart to become his champion. Sivana is ultimately rejected, but years later he returns and releases the Seven Deadly Sins. Afterward, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) is chosen by Shazam to be the new champion. The process transforms him into a super-powered, costumed hero, played by Zachary Levi.
The DCEU may soon explore the mythology a bit deeper when it releases Black Adam, a movie starring Dwayne Johnson as the titular character. While Shazam is typically depicted as a righteous hero, Black Adam is much less heroic. Originally set to appear in Shazam!, Dwayne Johnson's character will now receive his own solo movie. Directed by Jaume Collett-Serra from a script written by Adam Sztykiel, Black Adam has been in development for years but has finally been given a release date. In what way Black Adam will connect to Shazam! hasn't been confirmed, but it could relate directly to the presence of a seventh throne at the Rock of Eternity in Shazam!.
There's A Missing Seventh Champion In Shazam!
Shazam wasn't the only Wizard guarding the Rock of Eternity. He told Billy that there were seven of them, and that the others were killed over the years by the Seven Deadly Sins. This explains why there are seven thrones at the Rock of Eternity. Each throne is meant for a different Wizard. Interesting, the number "seven" is repeated numerous times and for a wide variety of reasons. However, despite the importance of the number there are only six champions who fight Sivana in the climax of the film.
When Shazam chooses to create new heroes, he gives his abilities to the other children in his foster home. Just as the Wizard did for him, Shazam grants the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury to Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), Darla (Faithe Herman), Mary (Grace Fulton), Eugene (Ian Chen), and Pedro (Jovan Arvand). This only adds up to six champions in total, so who's supposed to sit in the seventh throne? It's possible that there may never be a seventh champion, since Djimon Hounsou's character is dead. Or, it could mean that the seventh champion hasn't been created. A third possible explanation is that this person already exists. If so, why didn't he join the Wizard at the Rock of Eternity or help Shazam fight the Seven Deadly Sins?
Black Adam Was The First, Rogue Champion
As a Wizard who has existed for millennia, it makes sense that Billy Batson wouldn't be the first person he could find who was pure enough to be given the powers of Shazam. There was a time in ancient Egypt when Shazam found a young man who he wrongly believed was the perfect candidate. This was even hinted at towards the start of the film, when the Wizard was briefly explaining the history of the Council of Wizards.
In the pages of Marvel Family #1 in 1945, Black Adam first appeared as Teth-Adam, an ancient Egyptian who was chosen by the Wizard Shazam to become his successor. Like the current Shazam, Adam was selected due to being pure of heart. After being granted super powers, Adam went through a transformation similar to Billy's, except Adam wore a black costume. He also possessed the power of the Egyptian gods, instead of the Greek gods. Unfortunately, the powers had a negative effect on Adam's morality. Adam allowed his new abilities to corrupt him. Having access to such incredible power led Adam to believe that he should rule the world. Adam killed the pharaoh and seized control of Egypt. As a result, Adam attracted the ire of Shazam, who was disgusted by the actions of the person who he hoped would become his successor.
Shazam realized that Adam was the wrong choice, but it was too late to take back the powers he had given Teth-Adam. Shazam understood that the power transference couldn't be undone, so he banished Adam to a distant galaxy. It took Adam thousands of years to make his way back to Earth. When he finally returned, his rivalry with the new Shazam began.
Is Black Adam The Seventh Champion?
It's possible that the missing seventh champion is Black Adam. This would neatly tie Black Adam to Shazam!, with the Wizard Shazam being the character that connects them together. In fact, it may even be necessary for Black Adam to be the seventh champion, especially if DC Films has any intention of accurately adapting Black Adam's origin story. Unless for some reason Black Adam deviates from the comics in a huge way, the character will receive his powers from Shazam, just like Billy Batson. It's been suggested that Dwayne Johnson's take on Black Adam will be a hero, but it could be that this wasn't always the case.
If the DCEU's Black Adam did anything that made him fall out of the Wizard's good graces, he could have been punished in a way that's similar to what happened to his comic counterpart. The comic book version of Black Adam was banished so far from Earth that it took 5,000 years for him to fly his way back home. If this were to happen in the movie, it would explain why the seventh Wizard was never around and why he was never replaced like the others. As it is with the comics, it could be that Shazam couldn't take away Black Adam's powers. If Black Adam is immortal and already exists in the DCEU - which seems likely, based on his history in the comics - then Black Adam should still be one of the seven champions.
