Shazam! star Zachary Levi responds to a fan question in regards to the Shazam vs. Superman debate. Set in the DC Extended Universe, Shazam! follows the story of Billy Batson (Asher Angel), a 14-year-old foster kid who inherits the power of an ancient elder (Djimon Hounsou) after proving to be worthy by exhibiting a pure heart. Following the success of the film, Shazam! Fury of Gods is slated to appear in 2023 as a sequel to the superhero movie.
Since the dawn of Shazam! in the DCEU, fans have relentlessly questioned whether Superman could overcome the magical capabilities of Shazam. When it comes to their tenacious strength, both heroes are considered to be borderline equals. However, Superman becomes vulnerable with any presence of magic and Kryptonite. Although Shazam is fueled by magic and the power of Olympian gods, he still remains a kid in a man's body. Therefore, many sustain the debate by proclaiming that Superman is more experienced, leading to a never-ending cycle of deciding the genuine champion between the two.
During a short panel at Los Angeles Comic-Con, Levi responds to a fan question in regards to the Shazam vs Superman debate. Levi jokingly pokes fun at the question by stating he would bet on himself, as his character is the embodiment of magic, which is Superman's notorious shortcoming. Levi sincerely continues by explaining that in the comics, the fight between the two is treated as a "rubber-match" as both are equally competent, but Levi still believes that Shazam would outplay the red-caped crusader. Read his full response (via Fandom Spotlite) below:
“I got to bet on me… Kryptonite screws him up, magic screws him up even more. But honestly, based on the comics, it’s pretty much like a rubber-match. And I kind of like that, I like that they’re not picking a victor, but clearly I’m going to kick his ass.”
Although Henry Cavill's rendition of Superman was not predominantly involved in Shazam!, his character makes a brief faceless appearance in the post-credits of the film. Since then, fans have eagerly awaited Cavill's return for a wrangling match-up against Shazam. Despite the acknowledgment of the Man of Steel in Shazam!, it remains unknown if DCEU would contract Cavill to reprise his role again to appear in the following sequels. Recently, Black Adam star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has teased a possible confrontation between Black Adam and Superman in the near future, but nothing has been officially confirmed of the specific details.
Throughout the DC Universe, both Shazam and Superman have primarily been expressed as equals in terms of their strength, leading fans to become optimistic of a potential fight on-screen. However, with recent news of Cavill not returning to reprise his role in the sequel to Shazam!, the aspirations of a confrontational fight between the demigod and the last son of Krypton remains uncertain. Yet, the door is still left open for a crossover in the future, as Levi is interested in a potential scuffle against the exemplary hero.
Source: Fandom Spotlite
