DC's Shazam! movie releases in less than two months and it still hasn't received a full-length trailer - what's taking so long? Coming on the heels of the DCEU's first billion-dollar success with James Wan's Aquaman in December, the first live-action DC movie to hit theaters this year is Shazam!, which is being directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by Peter Safran, who also had a hand in getting Aquaman on the big screen.

Starring Asher Angel as Billy Batson and Zachary Levi as the superhero Shazam, along with Mark Strong as the supervillain Dr. Sivana, Shazam! is the final DCEU movie from WB's original slate to release in theaters, and even though it wrapped production last summer, would-be moviegoers have yet to see a full-length trailer for the movie.

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Following a handful of first look images, WB released the first Shazam! teaser trailer during their panel at San Diego Comic-Con. That was in July 2018. Ever since then, WB has primarily marketed Shazam! through TV spots and behind-the-scenes videos. Even though new Shazam! footage was shown at CCXP back in December, the studio has refrained from debuting an actual trailer, despite Levi promising that there would be a new trailer in the new year. So, just what happened?

Shazam! Was Meant To Get A Trailer In January

Since WB showed off new footage of Shazam! at CCXP 2018, it was believed that a new trailer would appear online shortly thereafter, though not right away. Earlier that week, Levi confirmed that a new Shazam! trailer would release sometime in the new year. While he didn't provide a specific date, it was generally believed that he meant it would debut in January. That was later affirmed when descriptions for a new Shazam! trailer surfaced online, with additional rumors stating that the trailer would release on January 19.

Of course, that never happened. But why? It's unclear exactly, but it's certainly possible that the leak may have had unintended consequences and forced the studio to push back a new trailer's release. What's interesting is that the Shazam! set visit embargo lifted around the same time as when the trailer was supposed to release in January, and then WB held a Shazam! preview event in early February. Usually, a movie would receive a new trailer around the same time the set visit embargo lifts, but WB is doing things differently this time around.

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Warner Bros. Have Released More Shazam! Footage - But No Trailer

While the full-length Shazam! trailer has yet to release, WB and DC Films haven't shied away from promoting the movie altogether. An extended TV spot for Shazam! actually came out on January 20, which was later shown during the AFC/NFC football game. Furthermore, the same day the embargo lifted for the Shazam! preview event coverage, WB did put out a behind-the-scenes video that included quotes from the director and stars, as well as a handful of new scenes from the movie.

Unfortunately, that was it. Since July, fans have only gotten a teaser trailer, an extended TV spot, and a behind-the-scenes video of the Shazam! movie, even though more footage has clearly been shown elsewhere. With less than two months before the movie hits theaters, now is arguably the best time to release another trailer, but that's if the studio planned on publishing another one in the first place.

Page 2 of 2: Is WB Holding Back A Shazam Trailer & Will It Ever Release?

Is Warner Bros. Holding A Full Shazam! Trailer Back?

Taking everything into account, it certainly seems like WB and DC Films are holding a new Shazam! trailer back from being released online. When Screen Rant was invited to WB's lot in Burbank to check out 20 minutes of the movie, we also saw a sizzle reel at the end that could've been a full-length trailer; it contained new footage that hasn't been shown to the public yet. So there's something the studio is sitting on, just waiting to be released. Considering that it's already been six months since the first Shazam! trailer was distributed, it makes sense for WB to hold off on putting out the presumed final trailer for another few weeks. If it was going to release in January or February, it would've done so already.

Instead, the best bet is that WB is waiting for Captain Marvel, which is set to come out on March 8. Looking back, Aquaman's final trailer debuted on November 19 to coincide with the movie's tickets going on sale, approximately one month ahead of Aquaman's release date. Since Shazam! is scheduled to release on April 5, it would make sense to promote the film along with Hollywood's latest superhero movie, Captain Marvel. There's a bit of humor here. The final trailer for Shazam! - which follows the original Captain Marvel - being shown ahead of Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel movie; one Captain Marvel movie being used to promote another Captain Marvel movie. It's actually a sound plan, and it falls in line with the marketing strategy DC Films employed for Aquaman.

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Will Shazam! Release Without A Full Trailer?

It's understandable to wonder if Shazam! would even get a full-length trailer at all, especially considering how long it's been since Comic-Con, but those fears are misguided. Really, it would be unprecedented; even secretive blockbuster movies like Star Wars and The Avengers receive more than one trailer. A new Shazam! trailer will surely release, and Safran told us as much during the movie's preview event on February 8. While he didn't outright say a new trailer was on the way, he heavily alluded to it, after first being asked straight away about the lack of a full-length trailer.

What's interesting is that WB's other spring/summer tentpole movie, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, already received a full-length trailer in December, despite that movie not releasing until the end of May. While both productions come from the same studio, it seems DC Films' marketing strategy for Shazam! may have shifted along the way to replicate what they did with Aquaman. And since Aquaman became an astounding box office success, WB and DC Films have every reason to continue with their marketing strategy, even if that means fans have to wait for a full-length trailer until late February or early March.

While we don't have a specific date on when the final, full-length Shazam! trailer will release, but it stands to reason that it will be some time ahead of Captain Marvel's debut. That would give WB and DC Films the opportunity to market the film to their target audiences, particularly nuclear families, as well as announce the opening of ticket presales. It's unfortunate that the Shazam! trailer has been held back for so long, but the studio is banking on it working out in their favor, which is reasonable.

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