In film, the current DC Universe has gone through a massive shift in power, with James Gunn and Peter Zaslav taking the reins on the franchise. While this has opened the door to many possibilities of a more cohesive universe, it has come with some surprise losses that included the cancellation of Wonder Woman 3 and Henry Cavill no longer in the role of Superman. Zachary Levi's Shazam has felt up in the air, but Shazam! Fury of the Gods may have finally offered some hope for him to remain in the role during the transition.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is unlike the previous film, in which Billy was getting used to his power. The sequel now sees him and his family saving lives as superheroes and sharing the power of Shazam. But as new villains, The Daughters of Atlas, appear, everything they've held dear is at risk. Now, they must fight to keep their power and save the planet while trying to outsmart enemies that have lived much longer than them.
Shazam Will Be Fighting Without His Family
Not much is known about The Daughters of Atlas or the nature of their powers but what's clear is that they may be even stronger than The Wizard, as one of their weapons can negate the powers of Shazam and his family. In fact, it may even steal their powers entirely. Seeing as The Daughters of Atlas believe that these children are undeserving of the power, it's made them into targets fighting to survive rather than bringing the fight to the enemy.
As the trailer has shown for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, these heroes have been picked off one by one and seemingly had their powers taken until only Billy remains. While this may spell the end for the Shazam family, all hope isn't lost, as it could be a new beginning for the DCU. That said, it doesn't mean that Mary Marvel or Captain Marvel Jr. couldn't return sometime in the future, but as of now, it appears that Billy may be the only one carrying The Wizard's power from this point forward.
Being the Only Shazam Makes a DCU Transition Easier
With Billy potentially being the only hero with powers to fight, this could make a transition into the DCU easier than ever. Rather than find a place for six heroes, the Shazam family losing their powers would make Billy alone the main focus. As a result, Levi's Shazam could still return either in the same continuity or one that's totally new. But rather than retell the origin, past events could be loosely acknowledged, thus setting up the chance for the Shazam family to return once the dust has settled.
No matter the ups and downs of the DCU, Zachary Levi's Shazam has been a mainstay of positivity and has remained one of the most faithful and loved entries of the entire franchise. Because of this, recasting him may not be a good idea in the long run, and having him be the only one with powers in Shazam! Fury of the Gods could save the entire series. As always, it will be up to Billy to keep his family safe, and thanks to his battle against The Daughters of Atlas, his future may be brighter than expected, and audiences may finally see him interact with even more heroes than ever.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods hits theaters on March 17th.