Shazam Could Play a Larger Part in the DCEU

CBR

By Ian Cardona

Published Jul 19, 2018

Following confirmation that Shazam! officially takes place in the DCEU, it's now been hinted that the character could have a bigger role to play.

With a simple picture of Freddy Freeman and Billy Batson meeting for the first time, we finally had confirmation that David F. Sandberg's superhero film, Shazam!, officially took place in the DC Extended Universe. What's more, we could finally say that the movie was set after the events of Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Since most of the heroes that the DCEU introduced, from Batman and Superman to Wonder Woman, Cyborg, the Flash and Aquaman, ended up forming the Justice League, is there any chance that we could see Zachary Levi's Shazam stand side-by-side with the rest of the League in a potential sequel? According to the film's producer, it's definitely possible.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shazam! producer Peter Safran said "I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shazam play a role in the DCU. He exists in that world." What's more, there is already a plan in place, should the character make further appearances in other films. Since actor Asher Angel, who plays young Billy Batson in the film, will continue to grow up at a rapid pace, there is a contingency to make this all work. "It’s something we’ve considered and have plans in place for sequels that take into account those realities," Safran teased.

Considering that much of the DC Extended Universe is based on the New 52 comics, which also led to the Justice League: War animated film that saw Shazam become a member of the Justice League, there is definite precedence for the Big Cheese joining the world's greatest team of superheroes.

We should know even more about the film this Saturday, during Warner Bros.' big, highly-anticipated panel that is set to focus on Aquaman, Shazam!, Wonder Woman 1984 and even the Harry Potter spin-off sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewlald.

Although it has not been confirmed, a first trailer of Shazam! is expected to make its debut then.

Arriving April 5, 2019, Shazam! is directed by David F. Sandberg and stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Djimon Hounsou as an ancient wizard named Shazam, Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield, Jack Dylan Grazer as Frederick “Freddy” Freeman, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Cooper Andrews as Victor Vázquez and Marta Milans as Rosa Vázquez.