Shazam Trailer Breakdown & Story Reveals

Warning: Minor SPOILERS for Shazam!

Find out how much of the DCEU's future was truly revealed in our Shazam! trailer breakdown. After the first Shazam! trailer dropped during SDCC, audiences had their clearest look at the lighthearted tone, the comedic writing, and above all magic of Billy Batson's origin story. The first trailer confirmed that the New 52 version of Shazam would be the foundation of the film, and the new footage confirms even more comic book Easter Eggs and homages. But now that DC Films has communicated the fun and fantasy of Shazam!, the time has come to start hyping up the fans for the action, spectacle, and superhero DNA of Earth's Mightiest Mortal.

Unlike the movies that preceded it, Shazam! is also the first chance for a DCEU movie to truly revel in its shared universe. Sure, Henry Cavill's time as Superman is in doubt, and Ben Affleck's done playing Batman. But that doesn't stop Shazam! from embracing a world in which those heroes are already famous role models, and pop culture sensations. And as promised, the Justice League references in this Shazam! trailer are going to delight plenty of DC fans.

The new Shazam! trailer reveals more secrets than you might expect. Here, we're breaking down every shot, every location, and every beat of the movie's story we can piece together so far. How connected to the rest of the established DCEU will Billy Batson be? And how many comic book scenes will Shazam! be bringing to life exactly as they appear in the source material? Read on to see for yourself.

17. Philadelphia, Hometown of Rocky Balboa

Outside of Wonder Woman's time in London, most of the DCEU so far has been set in fictional cities like Smallville, Metropolis, Gotham, and Midway City, but Shazam is changing it up, with Billy Batson calling Philadelphia his home. Fans of Shazam comics have known his home city to be Fawcett City for a long time, but Geoff Johns' reboot of the character placed him in Philly instead, and the movie is following suit.

This is pretty obvious to anyone familiar with Philadelphia's skyline, which is depicted several times throughout the trailer, but the opening shot actually highlights the Philadelphia Museum of Art, immortalized when Sylvester Stallone ascended their steps in the first Rocky (1976). The steps Rocky ran up to make that building famous aren't visible in the trailer, but it's hard to imagine the movie doesn't somehow make a nod to the cinematically iconic location. Especially how many self-aware pop culture references have already been made in marketing so far.

16. The Council of Eternity Confirmed

The names used to represent the magical, hidden fortress that Billy is transported to can get a bit confusing. After all, "The Rock of Eternity" doesn't exactly sound like a nexus of magical energy, pathways, and artifacts. And while it may seem like any old stone temple, occupied by one wizard, we see something else suggested in the Rock of Eternity. Assuming viewers notice the small staircase, rising up to a stone dais, ringed by a semi-circle of seven - exactly seven - stone thrones. Exactly what comic fans would expect of the DCEU's Council of Eternity.

The movie may not dive into the entire magical history of the DCEU, but this meeting room is a carbon copy of the comic book version. The place where seven magical figureheads of seven ancient cultures monitored the world. In those ancient days, it was a location known and visible to much of the world. But in the present day, in both comics and the Shazam! movie it seems, only The Wizard is left alive. And hes got a few good reasons to keep it locked to outsiders, until Billy comes along.

15. The Seven Sins Revealed

Again, the New 52 comic is giving the greatest insight into what this shot of the Rock of Eternity reveals--and more importantly, why the movie seems to be keeping its true meaning a secret. In the comics, Billy arrives at the Rock to receive the power from this aging wizard, and a wall along his left side immediately catches his attention. After touching the base of a stone pillar, the mystical image of a woman appears above it. As he laughs and activates one column after another, the entire group of seven are revealed in strange forms. These are the Seven Sins, living forces of evil somehow trapped by The Wizard.

From this first looks at the Rock in the movie's trailers and TV spots, there are several stone figures visible along the left side of the hall leading to the chamber (although their exact appearances are hard to decipher given the distance). Considering how much trouble is caused by these seven sinister agents, it was assumed that the Seven Sins would be in the Shazam movie. The real secret revealed by this shot only becomes clear when it actually IS Billy arriving...

14. The Seven Sins Released?

It may still just be a speculation on our part (and is likely to stay that way), but the trailers may have given away more of the story set millennia before, and just days, maybe hours prior to Billy's selection as champion. When the previous trailer showed Billy walking into the Rock of Eternity, fans knew not to waste time examining the stone or architecture when there was The Wizard Shazam in the flesh, offering Billy the powers of a demigod by becoming his champion. The effects of Billy's transformation into Shazam have been finished for this trailer, but it's the background that fans should analyze - now that we know how this room originally looked.

Without the new shot of the Seven Sins statues lining the room, viewers would think nothing of their absence upon Billy's arrival (or the crumbled rock before the column bases, suggesting the statues might have actually been more than just symbols of the evil forces). We could be wrong, but the Seven Sins breaking out into the world - like they did in the comic book - would be a good reason for Shazam to entrust such a rough, unheroic boy with the powers of a magical Superman.

13. Who Has The Wizard Called To The Rock Before?

Thanks to some creative editing on the part of the studio, fans might miss one of the most interesting details buried in the Shazam! marketing thus far. Since Billy was the first person shown to be magically called to The Rock of Eternity, and the trailer builds up to his meeting with The Wizard, viewers may not notice the above difference. Mainly... we're looking at two different time periods.

In one shot from a few entries up, we see the Seven Deadly Sins, but when Billy Enters the Rock of Eternity, the statues are all crumbled. This means we see at least one scene from the Rock of Eternity from long before Billy was ever summoned. As those who read the New 52 story know that it actually opens with dozens of testimonials, all from people transported to The Wizard, only to be turned away. It's possible the film may open in the same fashion, showing people entering the Rock of Eternity (prior to the Seven Deadly Sins escaping) only to be deemed unworthy. Either way, these short glimpses of the set offer up plenty of fuel for theories and speculation.

Page 2: Shazam's Powers and New 52 Gags

12. The New 52 Comic Gags Continue

By this point, the film's devotion to the New 52 reintroduction of Billy Batson, Freddy Freeman, and the whole Captain Marvel family should be obvious. Billy turning bullies into the bullied, the smashing of expensive SUVs, and his first showdown with Sivana all look to be lifted, more or less, exactly from the comics. But if those moments aren't yet clear to Shazam readers, the addition of even more gags lifted directly from the comics should put the final nail in the coffin. And not that it's a bad thing, either. It's just emphasizing how perfectly Geoff Johns and Gary Frank captured the fantasy, fun, and freaking out of a kid who becomes a superhero.

While many of the trailer's scenes are original moments created for the movie (like the selection of a possible superhero name, with "Captain Sparklefingers" emerging as stroke of brilliance even the comics book version couldn't compete with), other scenes are near carbon copies from the comics - the newest being Billy's attempt to withdraw cash from an ATM with expertly applied blasts of electricity. Here's hoping that get-rich-quick scheme works better for the movie versions of Billy and Freddy than it did in the comics.

11. Shazam's Super-Speed Confirmed

As any fan of The Flash can tell you, making your star superhero 'super-fast' creates a lot of problems down the road. The biggest being... why wouldn't they move as fast as they possibly can at all times? It's a fair question, and it's the main reason why almost every movie starring Superman - and now Wonder Woman - restrict the use of super-speed to critical moments, and resist making it a core superpower. Shazam seems to be taking a different approach.

The trailers have shown multiple moments in which Shazam moves almost too fast for the human eye to follow with a yellow tracer standing where he was a moment ago. Luckily, Shazam's use of such velocity may not be fiction-breaking at all. If Billy looks shocked, that's strong evidence that he doesn't know how to move that fast at will. Only when his instincts take over, showing his powers may be known, but are far from mastered. No word yet on how he might actually fare when a potential Justice League race takes place, but if The Flash is faster than Superman in the comics, does Shazam really stand a chance?

10. Man of Steel-esque Flying Fight?

The first time that Shazam actually meets "The bad guy" of this story, he's as stunned to encounter a being he can't punch across the street as he was in the comics. The punch caught by Sivana, and Billy's shocked reaction are all perfect recreations of the comics. But at least one of the shots that follows seems to draw inspiration from Zack Snyder, instead. Specifically, the one of Shazam and Sivana fighting in flight, with the villain hammering the hero back into the side of a skyscraper.

The instant comparisons to the Superman/General Zod fight from Man of Steel are easy enough to grasp. And sure, it may be a sign that Man of Steel was the first movie to show what two flying men would look like in a fistfight, more than a direct homage or 'Easter Egg.' But add in Billy's leap from a Philly rooftop at night, and his too-quick-to-see flight once transforming into Shazam, and it's clear the flying man re-imagined by Zack Snyder is alive and well in more ways than one.

9. Freddy Freeman's T-Shirt Game

If the earlier shots didn't make it clear, the events of Shazam begin in a world every bit as familiar with superheroes as our own - having become a major force in pop culture and merchandising. Freddy Freeman is the biggest source of this pop culture, referential humor, as shots of his bedroom and personal 'superhero souvenir' collection make references to Henry Cavill's Superman, and includes a Batarang flung by Ben Affleck's Batman.

And if you need more proof, it looks like Freddy Freeman is going to be demonstrating it in every scene without saying a word... letting his wardrobe do the talking instead. Because aside from his souvenirs and memorabilia, it's hard to tell if ANY of his t-shirts promote something other than a Justice League superhero. In this trailer, there's a clear Wonder Woman t-shirt, and possibly another Aquaman shirt. Not to mention his "Atlantean Lifeguard" t-shirt, which we're willing to bet real fans will line up to buy once Shazam! hits theaters.

8. Dark Knight Returns, Perhaps?

The very concept of Billy's transformation into Shazam is so fantastic - shout a magic word, be struck by lightning wherever he is, and erupt from the thunder and smoke as a godly champion - the makers of Shazam probably didn't have to do much else to make it a thrill for the audience. And yet, director David F. Sandberg tops off this Shazam! trailer by raising the coolness factor even further. Having Billy run and leap from a city rooftop, and be struck by the living lightning in midair, taking off like a rocket.

As every DC Comics fan knows, it's hard to see ANYONE silhouetted against a blue-black skyline, and sharply highlighted with a bolt of lightning, without thinking of The Dark Knight Returns. Frank Miller's depiction of Batman leaping through the sky, back-lit by lightning is one of the most iconic comic book covers, period. It's been homage in Batman v Superman, so we're inclined to think it's no coincidence here, either.

Page 3: Shazam's Learning Curve, New Powers, and Easter eggs

7. The Justice League Are Toy Heroes, Too

Some of the very first set photos to ever surface from the production of Shazam showcased both Billy and Dr. Sivana in a shopping mall, presumably engaging in a live action version of their comic book throwdown. The movie has done more than copy the comics, however, sending Billy flying into a toy store... to be surrounded by superhero backup in the form of Justice League toys, costumes, and action figures of every size and shape. And if the sizable Batman doll Billy throws at Sivana looks familiar, there may be a good reason for it.

As we learned from our visit to the set of Shazam! it's no coincidence that a viewer or two may spot a toy that they actually own. According to director David F. Sandberg, every single toy and piece of DC merchandise in that store is a real, in-production one that can be purchased in a real-world store. Even if most viewers won't notice that detail, it's a brilliant way to blur the line between Freddy's adoration of DC superheroes, and the love coming from the movie's audience.

6. That's Not My Name

We've seen multiple parts of the scene where Shazam gets snacks (and beer, before trying the root variety) from a convenience store, but this trailer adds a new joke at the end. Plenty of possible ideas for Shazam's name have been tossed out by Freddy in prior TV spots and previews, but this trailer delivers what may be the best yet. After Shazam says his already-iconic "sup, I'm a Superhero," Freddy says "it's Captain Sparklefingers."

Taking offense, Shazam is quick to correct the record - "No it's not. That's not my name!" It's too easy to assume after the cutaway he says "my name is Shazam!" accidentally turning himself back into Billy Batson. Either way, it's a terrific way to highlight the fact that... well, Shazam doesn't really have a name, in the current version of the story. After all, 'Shazam' is The Wizard's name. The champion chosen by him doesn't get an official moniker, which means the movie could actually keep this joke going for the entire runtime and be totally faithful to the source material.

5. Sivana's Lightning

Speaking of Captain Sparklefingers, this new trailer also explores more of Sivana's own lightning powers. It appears he shares a number of similar powers to Shazam, with the lightning just being the most obvious. In the particular shot seen above, he's attacking two police with a blast of electricity, something he's clearly far more adept at than Shazam. Whether it's a fatal attack or not isn't clear (since the 'magic' part of the lightning helps to impart more force than just saying 'Sivana and Shazam control electricity' would actually suggest).

But the bigger mystery is just how the movie is addressing the continuity problems of switching Black Adam to Sivana. In the comics, it made perfect sense for Black Adam and Shazam to have identical superpowers. One was the champion chosen by The Wizard thousands of years ago, and the other his new champion. But with the source of Sivana's powers unknown (The Wizard definitely didn't give them any) the similarities will have to be explained another way.

4. The Shazam Family Finds Out Billy's Secret

Billy Batson's superhero disguise may be as perfect as they come - he literally has a different body when he becomes Shazam - yet this trailer shows it won't be enough for him to keep his secret from his fellow foster kids. We know based on numerous bits of tie-in merchandise that the Shazam family will also get powers like the comics and be involved in the movie in some capacity - we've even identified the adult actors that will play them. But the trailer shows that it may be Mary's discovery which packs the biggest damage... and humor.

It may be hard to spot given how quickly the shot cuts away (and Shazam's own superspeed) but that sure looks to be Mary (Grace Fulton) that Shazam saves from being run over in a Philadelphia street. Considering how quickly she is spun out of sorts, and coming face to face with the musclebound superhero she doesn't know is her new foster brother, the door is open for some Billy-aged laughs (which may be what clues Darla in to the mystery, as shown in TV spots).

3. Another Big Superman Homage

It's clear by now that Shazam is going to include a fair number of DC Easter eggs and homages, and this trailer includes one for one of the most commonly referenced moments in any DC film - the cover of Action Comics #1, Superman's first appearance. In that comic, he's lifting a car above his head, and that moment has lived on in nearly every other incarnation of the Man of Steel.

While the context is quite different in Shazam, the reference is impossible to miss. Considering how many times people have described Shazam as being 'equal' to Superman in terms of his super powers and strength (and in the early days, even his popularity among the public) it's not just a knowing nod, but a well-deserved one, too. Although it sounds like Superman may have handled this crisis a bit more... smoothly.

2. Shazam's Learning Curve

While the trailer was full of humor, it's clear being a superhero isn't all fun and games, and Freddy grills his friend for his behavior multiple times, once telling him he "did the opposite of what a superhero's supposed to do," and later getting on his case after he saved the bus, because he caused the incident to begin with "you electrocuted that bus and almost killed those people."

Although Billy doesn't seem to understand the implications of his powers just yet, as his response to the bus criticism is just to excitedly brush it aside "and then I caught it!"

1. Leap Tall Buildings in a Single Bound - Almost

In a trailer full of Superman references, it's only fitting to cap it off with a direct allusion to the Man of Tomorrow. Freddy and Billy have been testing out powers throughout the trailer, and Freddy suggests one of Superman's most famous abilities "can leap tall buildings in a single bound."

Shazam attempts to perform this feat, and certainly gets plenty of hang time, but can't quite clear the skyscraper, crashing into what seems like someone's apartment, profusely apologizing. He has a way to go before getting on Superman's level.