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  • Where To Watch DC’s ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’

    'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    The DC comic-book sequel is coming to Max faster than you can say Shazam! Follow the Shazam family along on their next adventure and their battle with the daughters of Atlas.

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    Following the events of 2019’s Shazam! Billy Baxton and his foster siblings continue to be heroes for the people of Philadelphia, now with a better understanding of their newfound powers. But a new threat arrives that proves to be much more powerful than anything they have ever faced.

    David F. Sandberg (‘Annabelle: Creation’) returns to direct, with Zachary Levi and Asher Angel reprising their role as Shazam/Billy Baxton, Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy, Meagan Good and Faithe Herman as the ever-adorable Darla, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary, Ross Butler and Ian Chen as Eugene, D.J. Cotrona and Jovan Armand as Pedro, and Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard Shazam.

    The official synopsis for ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is below:

    “Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.”

    ‘Shazam Fury of the Gods’ opened to $30.1 million, $23.3 million less than the first film despite it being number one in the box office for its opening weekend. The sequel has grossed $132.1 million worldwide since its release.

    Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu Faces Off Against The Shazam Family

    Helen Mirren as Hespera and Lucy Liu as Kalypso in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren as Hespera and Lucy Liu as Kalypso in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    On top of juggling their superpowers and their normal lives, Billy and his siblings faces a new threat in the Daughters of Atlas. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu play sisters Hespera and Kalypso, arriving on Earth seeking revenge from those who took their powers. They go head-to-head with the Shazam family, stripping some of them of their powers, rendering Billy to face them alone.

    The chemistry between Mirren and Liu is undeniable, and some of the best moments in the film were when both were on screen together. The addition of Rachel Zegler (‘West Side Story‘) as the third sister Anthea created a fantastic dynamic as she struggled with how far her sisters are willing to go to regain their magic.

    Each sister possessed a different type of magic. Hespera has the power to manipulate the elements, giving her the ability to control air, water, fire, and earth. Kalypso has the power of chaos and can cause widespread panic and hysteria just by a whisper in one’s ear. Anthea has the ability to manipulate reality, giving her the control to wrap and shift her surroundings.

    The threat doesn’t stop there. This film is also filled with fantastical creatures from Greek mythology such as Ladon the Dragon, chimeras, minotaurs, harpies, and cyclops. The creatures were born out of the Tree of Life planted by Kalypso, wreaking havoc on Fawcett City. While not tied to the Greek mythology, unicorns also played a part in the movie serving as steeds for the Shazam fam.

    The Wonderous Cameo

    Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in 'Wonder Woman 1984.'
    Gal Gadot as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’

    In the 2019 ‘Shazam!’ film, there was plenty of mention of other DC superheroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Superman. In fact, Superman (sort of) made a cameo towards the end of the film, though not played by Henry Cavill as he was only seen from the chin down. This was again mentioned in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’, acknowledging that Shazam is not the only superhero in this universe.

    Audiences were quite surprised to see a full-on cameo of Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot. Wonder Woman appears during the film in Billy’s dream but her face was not revealed as the dream was interrupted by the Wizard Shazam in order to communicate with the teen. However, toward the end of the film, the Amazonian warrior appears again and as the camera continues to pan up it is revealed that it is Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, complete with her iconic theme music.

    Since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as co-chairmen of DC Studios, it was revealed that they’re resetting the DC Universe after ‘The Flash’. It is uncertain whether we’ll see the likes of Gal Gadot and other DC superhero actors such as Jason Momoa or even Zachary Levi appear in future DC films as their characters. Regardless of the future, it was a treat for DC fans to see Gadot’s Wonder Woman make her appearance in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’.

    Where Can I Watch ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’?

    Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,'a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Related Article: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Interview: Zachary Levi

    The film premiered on March 14, 2023. You can still experience the superhero action-comedy in theaters. Be sure to check your local listings and Moviefone for showtimes below. ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ has a total runtime of 2 hour and 10 minutes.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Movie Showtimes

    Watch the official trailers for ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ below:

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    Prefer to watch experience the movie from your home? ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ will be arriving on HBO Max (soon to be renamed to Max) on May 23, 2023. If you’re not a subscribed to the streaming service, you have the option to purchase the movie or rent on VOD.

    Where To Watch: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Online

    Buy ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ On Amazon

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods:’

    Watch Moviefone’s exclusive interviews with Zachary Levi and the cast of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ below:

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    Watch Moviefone’s exclusive interview with Grace Caroline Currey about her work on ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ below:

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  • ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Interview: Grace Caroline Currey

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    Currently playing in theaters is ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ which is a sequel to 2019’s ‘Shazam!’ and is once again directed by David F. Sandberg (‘Annabelle: Creation’).

    What is the plot of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    Set a few years after the events of 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ Billy Batson (Asher Angel), Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), and their foster siblings can now transform into powerful superheroes by using the magic words “Shazam.” But with the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) missing, when the daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler) return to Earth to claim back their magic, it’s up to Billy and his siblings to save the wizard and stop the evil sisters before they destroy Earth.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ features returning cast members Asher Angel and Zachary Levi (‘American Underdog‘) as Billy Batson/Shazam, Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy Freeman, Meagan Good and Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Ross Butler and Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, D.J. Cotrona and Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield, and Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard Shazam, as well as new cast members Helen Mirren (‘The Queen’) as Hespera, Lucy Liu (‘Charlie’s Angels’) as Kalypso, and Rachel Zegler (‘West Side Story’) as Anthea.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Grace Caroline Currey about her work on ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ playing Mary in her superhero form, wearing the costume and doing stunts, her DC Comics research, Zachary Levi’s leadership on set, reuniting with the cast, and working with new cast members Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler.

    Grace Caroline Currey attends the World Premiere of 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' in Westwood, CA.
    Grace Caroline Currey attends the World Premiere of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ in Westwood, CA. Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Grace Caroline Currey about ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods.’

    Moviefone: To begin with, when did you learn that you would not only be returning for the ‘Shazam!’ sequel to play Mary Bromfield but that you would also be playing the character in her superhero form?

    Grace Caroline Currey: I mean, quite a few years had passed and every year that passed I feel like our whole cast would say, “Has anyone heard anything? Are we going to get a sequel? When is it happening?” So finally I got the call that we were going to get a sequel, it was happening, and it was a very long awaited phone call. Obviously, we have a massive cast and getting everyone’s schedules together was wild. But then also getting to be told, not only was I coming back for the sequel, but that I was going to get to be in the suit as well. That was another moment of, is this real? I think it didn’t feel real until I was in fittings and actually putting a costume on and looking at myself in the mirror and going, I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s happening and I’m here. It was crazy.

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene and Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene and Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jessica Miglio. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    MF: Was it ever explained to you why the decision was made for you to be the only actor playing both your character and their superhero counterpart?

    GCC: I mean, technically speaking, and I think comic book wise, Mary didn’t visually change a whole ton when she was Mary Marvel in her comic book run. So it was actually pretty comic book accurate to have me doing both. But I will say, if you were going to have any of the kids do it, she’s the only one that makes sense because she’s the oldest, she is an adult. I think also technically speaking, when you have an adult actress playing the human form, it does visually get a little tricky when you have two adults playing the same role. I had a wonderful time getting to play Mary’s dramatic moments and then getting to play the entirety of her in her superhero form. They just said, “Let’s do it. Let’s have you be responsible for her human form, and her superhero form.” That was the best for me as an actor because I got to really plot out who Mary is through and through and be responsible for that continuity. That was the best. But yeah, the explanation was just that I’m the oldest and I’m an adult, and there you go.

    Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jessica Miglio. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Related Article: Zachary Levi Talks ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and Playing a Superhero

    MF: What was it like for you to finally wear the costume and perform some of your own stunts in the action sequences?

    GCC: Oh gosh, what a level up. I guess it was a level up for the human form of our characters too because we got to ride unicorns this time around and have a lot of action going on even in our human forms. But I really love doing stunts. I really love being in the stunt harness. It feels like the harness is a superpower in a way because I put it on and suddenly I’m able to fly. I’m able to flip upside down while flying and do all sorts of fun stuff, thanks to the harness. I’m able to land from a crazy high height and do a fun superhero landing. So, definitely getting to explore playing a superhero and then nerd out and have the kind of thoughts of, how do I pose my body when I’m flying or standing, and how is this different from when I’m human? That was really fun. I was talking to someone in our costume department and I was like, this is my first day on set, and I don’t know how to stand. Why is this feeling so complicated? I know it’s not, but I grew up looking at comic books. I grew up watching the ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ and ‘Justice League.’ I wanted to look like a superhero and I wanted to make sure I was doing it right. He’s like, “You’ve got to look at Olympic athletes and their physicality. Look at the photos of athletes because that was what comic book artists were using for their illustrations. They would grab stills of runners when they’re about to run.” That was really cool, looking at those. You’ve got that athletic feeling, you’re ready for action with your hands in fists and just this kind of I’m ready feeling. Whereas when it’s Mary in her human form, she’s sitting on a beanbag chair reading her organic chemistry book in a hunched over position.

    Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi and Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi and Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    MF: Mary Bromfield (or Mary Marvel, as the character was originally known), has played an important role in the pages of DC Comics. Did you dig into any of the comic books to research your character’s history, or did you choose not to so you could approach the character with a fresh perspective?

    GCC: I have a drawer of Mary comics that have been given to me. When I first played Mary, there actually was talk of, do we want to have the same actor for her human form and her superhero form? They were juggling and I was told, they hadn’t decided if I would be doing both or not. Then they ended up obviously going with the adult counterpart, which I think really sold the whole Shazam family into adults payoff. I feel like you really need that. So I had for the first one, a really dear friend of mine got me this giant box of Mary comics with different appearances and volumes, and I was just digging through trying to see, what’s the common thread of her mannerisms? She’s written a specific way that is different than some of her other appearances. We do see a little bit of this Mary in ‘The New 52’ because you’ve got the foster system, but it was still really cool to learn about her having this history of being Billy’s twin sister at one point, or the whole thing with her parents at an archeological dig storyline. All that stuff was so fun to learn about. I’m a bit like Mary, where I get really curious about things and I just want to get intellectually in it and know as much as I possibly can, and get as much knowledge as I can. So in prep for Superhero Mary, I had a lot already in my brain from the first ‘Shazam.’ If anything, it was just carrying over that established thing and just being mindful that at the end of the day, Mary’s the one with the wisdom of Solomon. That’s all.

    Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Zachary Levi as Shazam and Grace Caroline Curry as as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Zachary Levi as Shazam and Grace Caroline Curry as as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    MF: What was it like working with Zachary Levi, and as number one on the call sheet, what type of tone does he set during production?

    GCC: He is incredibly on it, always. I think he’s the most on it actor I’ve ever worked with. He’s so on it that sometimes it’s like, we can relax, let’s just take five. Because when he gets on set, he’s aware of what everybody is doing, how time could be managed better, and he’s really mindful that he is not contributing to time not being managed well. So he is always on his mark, he’s always ready, and he’s mindful where we need to be. He’s almost a Mary within the realm of filmmaking and it definitely comes from his experience on ‘Chuck.’ When you work on a TV show, you are so aware of how the sausage is made. So I think him being our leader, it’s great because it doesn’t feel like we’re sitting around twiddling our thumbs, because he’s always just on it. He knows what’s going on. I know this is sad to say, but sometimes you get on sets and your number one does not know their lines. It’s so sad to say that, but sometimes they just are not prepared and it’s always the most baffling thing to encounter because it’s like, do you want to be here? I love this and this is a job. Thank goodness he is not that person ever! So we’re really lucky to have Zach on ‘Shazam’ because he’s the glue. Everybody goes back to his house at the end of the day to hang out, play video games, and eat barbecue.

    Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield and Ian Chen as Eugene Choi in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield and Ian Chen as Eugene Choi in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    MF: What was it like reuniting with the other actors that play the foster kids, and also what was it like working for the first time with the adult actors that play the superheroes?

    GCC: Oh, it was really cool. I feel like I get all the presents because I’m with the kids, and I’m with the adults. I hang out with everybody the most. I selfishly felt like my joke is that I get invited to all the birthday parties. I get to be with the kid group chat and the adult group chat. I was running around the streets of Georgia with Djimon Hounsou for a lot of the movie, and he is an incredibly warm human, that’s very thoughtful and that was really cool to be. But then the superheroes, I mean, D.J. Cotrona’s become my Hollywood big brother. I’m always texting him being like, “D.J. I’ve come against this situation. What’s your advice?” Everyone in the adult cast seemed to have a moment where they were helping me with something. But working with the adults was really cool and there’s no bad egg, which is, when you have so many people, it’s rare. I’ve worked with lovely people. I don’t want to make it sound like I haven’t, but this experience was really special.

    Grace Caroline Currey and Helen Mirren attend the World Premiere of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" in Westwood, CA.
    (L to R) Grace Caroline Currey and Helen Mirren attend the World Premiere of “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” in Westwood, CA. Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau.

    MF: Finally, Oscar winner Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler join the cast as the villainous Daughters of Atlas. What was your experience like working with them, and can you talk about what they brought to this sequel?

    GCC: Well, the cool thing I have to say about Helen is that you really wonder what the set is going to feel like when you have someone who’s such a legend. There’s definitely this feeling where it’s like, we’re in a Helen Mirren movie. Helen’s in our movie, Dame Helen Mirren! But I got to say, I was surprised by the fact that she felt like one of us. Sometimes it can feel a little bit like, “Everybody get ready. This person’s coming to set, who is a big deal.” But no, you turn around and she’s just right there and she’s ready to go. She’s at her mark before anyone else or anyone tells her, and she’s in the stunt harness getting picked up over Zach’s head. I’m watching this thinking, I’m afraid of Helen. She’s such a boss and also so inspiring. I want to be like Helen when I grow up. It was also really fun to have moments of sitting on the steps while we were waiting to shoot with Helen because she wasn’t the actor that was going immediately back to her trailer. She was there sitting on the steps and chatting with me. Then Lucy’s jumping up and telling our props department that because of the wood table we just smashed against the wall, there are now wood chips are on my cape and they could hurt me. Out of the blue, she’s stepping in and saying, “Everybody, I want you guys to be aware that these were on her cape. I’m going, ‘Thank you,” and she’s saying, “I got your back.” Then of course, I love Rachel. I feel like everybody knows I love Rachel. Rachel’s my buddy, and she’s awesome. She’s just a good egg and she’s such a great human.

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

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    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is produced by New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, and DC Films, and is scheduled for release on March 17th.

  • Dwayne Johnson Reportedly Vetoed ‘Black Adam’ Characters for ‘Shazam’ Sequel

    Dwayne Johnson in 'Black Adam' and Zachary Levi in 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods.'
    (L to R) Dwayne Johnson in ‘Black Adam’ and Zachary Levi in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods.’

    There are new revelations coming to light about what has been happening behind the scenes of DC movies. But before we go any further, we should specify that there are spoilers ahead for one of the end credits scenes of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’.

    According to various sources, Dwayne Johnson –– star, producer and PR figurehead behind the ‘Black Adam’ movie –– vetoed the appearance of ‘Adam’ characters from the Justice Society of America showing up at the end of the Zachary Levi-starring superhero sequel.

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    What was supposed to happen at the end of the ‘Shazam!’ sequel?

    Here’s where we get into spoiler territory: in the first of two end credits scenes, Levi’s Shazam was supposed to be approached by Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) and at least one other member of the Justice Society to join their team.

    In the final film, it’s actually Agent Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee) from ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker’ who show up to drop word that the Society wants Shazam. It’s a little more confusing, since that pair have nothing to do with the Justice Society, but the swap was necessary when the Rock blocked the original plan.

    Director David F. Sandberg offered the first word on the change when talking to The Hollywood Reporter.

    Here’s what Sandberg said,

    “There were supposed to be characters from the Justice Society, but that fell apart three days before we were going to roll cameras. So, Peter Safran, who produced this movie and ‘Peacemaker’, made some calls, and thankfully, Jen Holland and Steve Agee were able to come by on very short notice.”

    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’

    The Wrap has since dug into the matter further, pushing the concept that Johnson was doing everything he could to promote ‘Black Adam’ at ‘Shazam’s cost.

    It’s also worth noting that Levi posted the Wrap’s headline to an Instagram story with the caption “The truth shall set you free”.

    Johnson, of course, was attached to the role of Black Adam for more than a decade before the movie actually arrived last year. While the original plan had been for the historic Shazam antagonist (who has moved closer to anti-hero status as the years have gone by) to show up as the villain in the first ‘Shazam!’ movie, Johnson pushed for him to get his own film.

    And in advance of ‘Black Adam’, he began focusing more on the idea of Adam going up against Superman rather than Shazam, with Henry Cavill (who, when he was still scheduled to return as the character, showing up in a post-credits scene in ‘Black Adam).

    Of course, all of that was planned before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over running the DC Studios arm of Warner Bros. Discovery and have largely decided to wipe the slate clean and start over. And it’s worth pointing out, before ‘Black Adam’ underperformed at the box office.

    The studio is naturally hoping there will be less of this sort of chaos now that Gunn and Safran are on board and overseeing more of the connections between movies and characters, but time will tell.

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods:’

    Buy Tickets: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy DC Movies On Amazon

    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is produced by New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, and DC Films, and is scheduled for release on March 17th.

  • Ben Affleck Says He Won’t Direct DC Movies

    Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in 'Air.'
    Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in ‘Air.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Ben Affleck’s latest gig as director, ‘Air’, is headed to theaters on April 5th.

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    Now, talking to The Hollywood Reporter, he’s revealed one place he definitely won’t be calling the shots: DC Studios.

    Ben Affleck as Batman in 2016's 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.'
    Ben Affleck as Batman in 2016’s ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’

    Related Article: James Gunn Confirms He’ll Direct ‘Superman Legacy’ in Emotional New Message

    What did Ben Affleck say about directing at DC Studios?

    Asked whether he’d be up for directing a DC movie, Affleck had this to say,

    “I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not. I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.”

    This is likely news –– at least in public –– to James Gunn, who took to Twitter in December replying to a fan question about Affleck by saying this:

    “Met with Ben yesterday precisely because he wants to direct & we want him to direct; we just have to find the right project.”

    You can read more about what Gunn said here:

    Affleck also did not hold back from talking about how unhappy he was while making the theatrical version of ‘Justice League’.

    Here’s what he said,

    “That was the worst experience I’ve ever seen in a business which is full of some shitty experiences. It broke my heart. There was an idea of someone [Joss Whedon] coming in, like, “I’ll rescue you and we’ll do 60 days of shooting and I’ll write a whole thing around what you have. I’ve got the secret.” And it wasn’t the secret. That was hard. And I started to drink too much. I was back at the hotel in London, it was either that or jump out the window. And I just thought, ‘This isn’t the life I want. My kids aren’t here. I’m miserable.’ You want to go to work and find something interesting to hang onto, rather than just wearing a rubber suit, and most of it you’re just standing against the computer screen going, ‘If this nuclear waste gets loose, we’ll …’ That’s fine. I don’t condescend to that or put it down, but I got to a point where I found it creatively not satisfying. Also just, you’re sweaty and exhausted. And I thought, “I don’t want to participate in this in any way. And I don’t want to squander any more of my life, of which I have a limited amount.”

    Despite that, he still squeezed back into the “rubber suit” for ‘The Flash’, where he reprises the role of Batman. And he feels like he finally got a handle on the role.

    Affleck said this of coming back to the role,

    “I did finally figure out how to play that character, and I nailed it in ‘The Flash’. For the five minutes I’m there, it’s really great. A lot of it’s just tone. You’ve got to figure out, what’s your version of the person? Who is the guy that fits what you can do? I tried to fit myself into a Batman.’

    ‘Air’, in which he also plays as Nike co-founder and former CEO Phil Knight, will be in theaters on April 5th before it then heads to Prime Video.

    Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air.'
    (L to R) Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballosa. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

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    ‘Air’ is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman. It is set to release exclusive in theaters on April 5, 2023.

  • Movie Review: ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’

    Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Zachary Levi as Shazam and Grace Caroline Curry as as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, Zachary Levi as Shazam and Grace Caroline Curry as as Super Hero Mary in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    The long-awaited sequel to 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ entitled ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ will finally be release in theaters on March 17th and is once again directed by David F. Sandberg (‘Annabelle: Creation’). The movie will mark the 12th installment of the DC Extended Universe franchise, which will come to an end this summer when the series is rebooted by ‘The Flash.’

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    What is the plot of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    Following the events of 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ Billy Batson (Asher Angel), Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), and their foster siblings can transform into powerful superheroes using the magic words “Shazam.” But with the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) missing, when the daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler) return to Earth to claim back their magic, it’s up to Billy, Freddy, and their brothers and sisters to save the wizard and stop the evil sisters.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ once again stars Asher Angel and Zachary Levi as Billy Batson/Shazam, Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy Freeman, Meagan Good and Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Ross Butler and Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, D.J. Cotrona and Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield, and Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard Shazam. Joining the sequel are Oscar winner Helen Mirren (‘The Queen’) as Hespera, Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’) as Kalypso, and Rachel Zegler (‘West Side Story’) as Anthea.

    Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,'a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    Initial Thoughts

    While ‘Fury of the Gods’ is a more mature installment than the original, it loses some of its magic and charm along the way introducing several new characters, but not having enough time to adequately explore them all. Helen Mirren and Rachel Zegler are welcomed additions to the cast, and while Zachary Levi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Meagan Good, and Grace Caroline Curry all give good performances, it’s not enough to overcome a complicated script and undefined VFX characters in the third act.

    Zachary Levi as Shazam and Helen Mirren as Hespera in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Zachary Levi as Shazam and Helen Mirren as Hespera in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Related Article: Zachary Levi Talks ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and Playing a Superhero

    The Story and Direction

    Through no fault of its own, ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ arrives in theaters somewhat dead on arrival, as the entire DCEU will be rebooted into the DC Universe, overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran, after the release of this summer’s ‘The Flash.’ While we know that we will not see Henry Cavill return as Superman, and ‘Wonder Woman 3’ is no long in development, the future of DCEU actors like Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, and even Zachary Levi are somewhat in question. But, since new DC co-chairman Peter Safran is a producer on ‘Fury of the Gods’ and ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ there might be a chance to see those actors return in their roles.

    I mention this only because it takes away some of the urgency of the movie, since there is a possibility everything that happens could be erased by ‘The Flash.’ It makes it difficult to care about these characters and what happens to them, since their future is up in the air after ‘The Flash’s release.

    The sequel also wants to take the ‘Empire Strikes Back’ approach and be a darker toned follow up. It manages to succeed but at the sacrifice of a lot of the fun and innocence of the original. Billy’s struggle to find his place in the world, both as a hero and a young man is a well-executed theme of the film, and works for the most part but they don’t quite stick the landing. Director David F. Sandberg’s take on the original movie was brilliant, making a superhero version of ‘Big.’ But the sequel is weighed down by the darker tone and the multiple characters and villains the movie tries to juggle.

    The visual effects in the movie are used pretty well, especially Kalypso’s dragon and the Dark Unicorns that appear at the end. But the finale also features numerous VFX creatures that don’t look as sharp, and muddy the final scenes of the film.

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    The Heroes

    Zachary Levi is a very likable actor, and was perfectly cast in the role of Shazam in the original, portraying an adult superhero who is really a child. The actor’s own childlike enthusiasm leant itself well to the role, but with the darker tone of the sequel, the character is at times lost amongst the action and other super-powered beings. Levi does as much as he can with the material he was given, but the character fails to resonate as well as he did in the original.

    Unfortunately, Asher Angel, who plays Billy Batson before he becomes Shazam, feels lost in the role. It’s a tricky thing because basically Levi and Angel are creating Billy together, but Levi easily has more screen time than his co-star, making it very hard for the audience to relate to human Billy, since we barley see him. And his emotional moments at the end of the film don’t seem to have the gravitas they deserve.

    Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays Billy’s best friend Freddy Freeman, is thankfully given more to do this time around. The darker tone of the sequel mixes well with the character’s struggles, and Freddy’s relationship with Rachel Zegler’s Anthea, is at the heart of the movie. Adam Brody plays the superhero version of Freddy, but his performance doesn’t match as well with Grazer’s and it at times feels like they are playing two different characters.

    Grace Caroline Currey returns to play Mary Bromfield, but in ‘Fury of the Gods,’ also plays her superhero alter ego, the only cast member to perform both roles. Currey shines as Mary and has more to do in the sequel, as she is still a mentor to her foster siblings, but is also struggling to balance college with crime fighting.

    The other standout from Shazam’s superhero family is Meagan Good, who plays Darla Dudley in her superhero form. Good’s performance is one of the most emotional and funniest of the film, and the actress perfectly captures the young and enthusiastic attitude of her co-star, Faithe Herman, who portrays Darla in her human form.

    Djimon Hounsou also reprises his role as the Wizard Shazam, but his performance is very one-note, and is not given the screen time to really make the character matter to the overall story.

    Lucy Liu as Kalypso and Helen Mirren as Hespera and Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,'a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu as Kalypso and Helen Mirren as Hespera and Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    The Villains

    Lucy Liu gives a fun and villainous performance as Kalypso, but the actress is at her best when partnered with Helen Mirren, rather than when she is on her own. Lui definitely excels in the action sequences, and Kalypso’s dragon is one of the best VFX creatures in the movie.

    Oscar winner Helen Mirren gives a very menacing performance as Hespera, and is clearly having a lot of fun playing the villain. The actress is commanding in the role, a great advisory for Levi’s Shazam, and has strong chemistry with Lui and Zegler. There is a pop culture reference to ‘The Fast and the Furious’ franchise in the movie, and the look on Mirren’s face, who herself is a member of that series, was a fun bit of meta humor. Mirren handles her action sequences well, and injects just enough humanity into the character that she is believable, and not just evil for evil’s sake.

    But the real standout of the film is Rachel Zegler as Anthea, the youngest of Atlas’ daughters and sister to Hespera and Kalypso. She begins the movie as Anne, a classmate of Freddy’s, who he develops a crush on. As Anne, Zegler is sweet and innocent, but not too much that her reveal as one of the sisters seems out of place. The actress makes the twist in the character completely believable and not too much of a stretch for the audience. She has great chemistry with Glazer, and you really believe that Anthea likes him, and is not just using him for her sister’s evil plans. Zegler has strong chemistry with Mirren and Liu as well, and you can understand how she could get caught up in their power grab.

    Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo
    Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Do Any Other DC Characters Cameo in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    Yes. Much like the Superman cameo in the original ‘Shazam,’ there is a DCEU hero that appears in the movie, but is only seen from the neck down. However, surprisingly, the real performer that plays that character in other DCEU films does reappear for a cameo by the film’s end. It’s not in an end-credit or mid-credit scene, and I won’t say which character or performer returns, but I will say the scene takes place in the third act and is a bit more than a cameo, but not much. The character in question is played by a performer who’s future in the new DC Universe has been in question, but hopefully their appearance in ‘Fury of the Gods’ will shed some light on that.

    Final Thoughts

    While not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination, ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ tried to take too much on, with multiple character arcs, several new villains, and a VFX heavy third act. There are some fun moments and good performances in the movie, but the filmmakers tried to take on too much with this sequel, and with the DCEU ending soon anyways, the stakes just don’t seem that high at all.

    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    Zachary Levi as Shazam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Zachary Levi as Shazam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is produced by New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, and DC Films, and is scheduled for release on March 17th.

  • ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ Interview: Zachary Levi

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    Opening in theaters on March 17th is the 12th installment of the DC Extended Universe franchise, and the sequel to 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ entitled ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ which was once again directed by David F. Sandberg (‘Annabelle: Creation’).

    What is the plot of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    Following the events of 2019’s ‘Shazam!,’ Billy Batson (Asher Angel), Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), and their foster siblings can transform into powerful superheroes using the magic words “Shazam.” But with the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou) missing, when the daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler) return to Earth to claim back their magic, it’s up to Billy, Freddy, and their brothers and sisters to save the wizard and stop the evil sisters.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods?’

    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ once again stars Asher Angel and Zachary Levi  (‘American Underdog‘) as Billy Batson/Shazam, Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy Freeman, Meagan Good and Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Ross Butler and Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, D.J. Cotrona and Jovan Armand as Pedro Pena, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield, and Djimon Hounsou as the Wizard Shazam.

    Joining the sequel are Oscar winner Helen Mirren (‘The Queen’) as Hespera, Lucy Liu (‘Charlie’s Angels’) as Kalypso, and Rachel Zegler (‘West Side Story’) as Anthea.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Zachery Levi about his work on ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ how Billy has changed since the first film, what playing this character has meant to him, working with Mirren, Liu and Zegler, and what fans can expect from the sequel.

    Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,'a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    (L to R) Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, and Lucy Liu.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to someone sitting down to watch this movie right now to prepare for the experience they are about to have?

    Zachary Levi: I don’t know that there’s anything I can say that can adequately prepare you for the amazing adventure you’re about to go on. But listen, if you liked the first movie, and I really hope that you did, I hope everybody got to see that, we were able to capture the same DNA. The same nugget of charm and humor and heart and family and adventure, all that stuff. We protected that. We brought that over to the new movie. But then we got more money and more time to make it even splashier and bigger. We got dragons! I mean, it’s all that stuff, so you’re welcome. You’re in for a treat.

    Zachary Levi stars in 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods.'
    Zachary Levi stars in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods.’

    Related Article: Comic-Con 2022: WB Brings ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam!’ Sequel Trailers

    MF: In this sequel, Billy is trying to find his place in the world both as a hero and as a young man. Can you talk about that and your approach to playing the character this time around?

    ZL: Now it’s about three years later in life. He went from 14 to 17, almost 18 now, and that’s a big jump in a kid’s life. The rest of the kids, they’ve all been superheroes now for about three years and attempting to be a super team, but bumbling through that a lot. So Billy knowing that he is the leader, he’s responsible for giving all the other kids their powers, he takes it very seriously. He wants to make sure that he’s doing his best as a leader, as a brother, and as a son. Simultaneously, he’s about to turn 18 and age out of the foster system, and he’s terrified that he’s going to lose this family that he worked so hard and took so long to find. So that’s kind of where he’s at emotionally as we meet him in this movie.

    Zachary Levi as Shazam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Zachary Levi as Shazam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: What has it meant to you to play this character over these two films, to work in the DC universe and for so many young kids be the embodiment of Shazam?

    ZL: It’s the coolest dude. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamt of being an actor, and I’m an actor. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamt about being a superhero, a legitimate one, and I get to be as legitimate a superhero as anyone gets to be, pretending to be one. This particular character is so delightful because I was a huge fan of Tom Hanks in ‘Big’ and Christopher Reeve and ‘Superman,’ and I get to do both in one role. It’s a dream come true, honestly. Listen, I got to have fun in the Marvel universe (‘Thor: The Dark World’). Now I get to be my own man in the DC universe. I mean, my little nerdy heart is geeking out on the highest levels. It’s so fun.

    Lucy Liu as Kalypso and Helen Mirren as Hespera and Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,'a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu as Kalypso and Helen Mirren as Hespera and Rachel Zegler as Anthea in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

    MF: Finally, what was it like working with Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler on this project?

    ZL: Delightful on every level, honestly. They are just exquisite human beings. Lovely, talented, so professional, but also just so human and humble. They were delightful to work with on set and on camera and just as delightful, if not more, off camera and living life.

    Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Grace Caroline Currey as Super Hero Mary, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla and D. J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro in New Line Cinema’s action adventure Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.

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    ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is produced by New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, and DC Films, and is scheduled for release on March 17th.

  • ‘Green Lantern’ TV Series Being Redeveloped

    Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics.
    Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. Photo courtesy of DC.Fandom.com.

    It’s (almost) all change for the DC Comics-based ‘Green Lantern’ show that had been moving forward at HBO Max. Though it had gotten to the point of casting Jeremy Irvine and Finn Wittrock in the lead roles, the series is headed back to the drawing board with a new take.

    Back in 2020, ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ Seth Grahame-Smith hopped aboard to write and run what HBO Max was picturing its most expensive series to date, a space-set ‘Green Lantern’ drama whose focus would be the Alan Scott and Guy Gardner iterations of the character among the first and most popular versions.

    It also represented movement on representation, with Scott, whose comic book character is openly gay these days bringing that across to the show.

    The concept of the ‘Green Lantern’ comics is that of a super-powered, police force, battling evil doers with rings that allow them to channel energy into different forms. There are many Lanterns, who patrol the known and unknown universe.

    Greg Berlanti, who has had a hand in pretty much every DC TV series (and a whole host of others) – and who was one of the writers on the 2011 Ryan Reynolds-starring movie – was producing the show via his Berlanti Productions.

    While Berlanti is staying aboard, the changes mean that Grahame-Smith is departing the show, despite having written eight scripts already and overseen the casting process for Wittrock and Irvine.

    Jeremy Irvine in Steven Spielberg's 'War Horse.'
    Jeremy Irvine in Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse.’ Photo: Andrew Cooper, SMPSP. ©DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

    No new creative team has been appointed for the series, but the budget will apparently be less and the focus will instead be on John Stewart, the first Black iteration of the Lantern character. His version was introduced in the 1970s and used Sidney Poitier as its inspiration.

    The history of the Lantern on screen has been seriously mixed. Though different takes on the character have flourished in animated movies and series, their live-action counterparts have had less luck. The Reynolds movie didn’t triumph at the box office, and there have been fleeting glimpses on the small screen.

    Even Zack Snyder didn’t manage to realize his chosen Lantern – John Stewart – in his mammoth Snyder Cut of ‘Justice League’. Despite shooting a cameo with Wayne T. Carr as Stewart, Warners asked him to remove the character because of the studio’s own plans. In the end, Snyder swapped in Martian Manhunter.

    Warner Bros. Discovery has been on a cost-cutting binge of late, cancelling movies and in-the-works TV series all over the place, including ‘Batgirl’ and ‘Wonder Twins’. Since the merger with Discovery, new company chief David Zaslav has announced it is taking billions in tax write-downs as it reduces budgets and reverses decisions.

    ‘Green Lantern’ will now be a much smaller and cheaper series, which and though it was supposed to shoot last year, is now back in development and much further from any eventual release date.

    The Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics.
    The Green Lantern Corps from DC Comics. Photo courtesy of DC.com.
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  • Henry Cavill Officially Returning as Superman

    Henry Cavill Officially Returning as Superman.
    Henry Cavill Officially Returning as Superman.

    There has been much talk of Henry Cavill’s status as Clark Kent – AKA Krypton’s most famous son, Kal El AKA Superman – in recent years. Some has pointed to him being ditched from Warner Bros. DC Extended Universe film franchise altogether.

    Then there were stories about him entering talks to return fully as Superman. It appears those particular stories were correct, as Cavill hit Instagram today to announce that he’ll officially be donning Supes’ unform again following… Well, that constitutes a big SPOILER ALERT, so please stop reading if you don’t want to know any more.

    Henry Cavill as Superman in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.'
    Henry Cavill as Superman in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’

    Still with us? Okay… Cavill has already made his return to the franchise via this weekend’s ‘Black Adam’ and a post-credit scene in which Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller threatens Dwayne Johnson’s title character with “people not from this planet” to keep him in line. “Send them all,” growls Adam, and there’s a sonic boom followed by a familiar figure descending from the sky. It’s Cavill’s Superman, looking more like the Christopher Reeve version than ever and with the John Williams theme to drive the point home.

    “Black Adam,” he says. “We should talk.”

    Cavill’s post doesn’t go into specifics beyond mentioning that we can expect a lot more from Superman going forward. We know that Johnson wants to see his Adam go up against Superman in future, and Warner Bros. does seem intent on figuring out a second ‘Man of Steel’ solo movie after Cavill made his debut in Zack Snyder’s 2013 outing.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGjGIZL4rk/

    Don’t expect (despite calls) for the Snyderverse to be restored, though – instead The Hollywood Reporter has heard that producer Charles Roven is spearheading the search for writers for that solo Supes movie, and that a director wish list is being drawn up, with Christopher McQuarrie. Which sounds great, but if they want to get moving, he’s unlikely to be available (let alone interested), since he’s too busy working with real-life man of steel Tom Cruise on the next two ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies and will have those on his plate until at least late 2023/early 2024 including post-production and promotional duties.

    Still, at least it’s good news for fans of Cavill’s Superman, who have wanted to see him return to the role. With luck any new movie will allow him to channel the feel-good interpretation of the hero after the doomy vibes of ‘Steel’, ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and ‘Justice League’ (be it Whedon or Snyder cut). At least let the man smile! Cavill has bags of charm, and his Clark Kent could really use some of that energy.

    So it appears there’s a little more stability in the chaotic DC universe, at least on the Superman front.

    Henry Cavill as Superman in 'Man of Steel.'
    Henry Cavill as Superman in ‘Man of Steel.’
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  • Movie Review: ‘Black ‘Adam’

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    DC Comics attempt at replicating the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the DC Extended Universe has had some missteps. For every ‘Wonder Woman’ or ‘Aquaman,’ there has been a ‘Suicide Squad’ or ‘Justice League.’

    But that will all change on October 21st when ‘Black Adam’ which stars Dwayne Johnson and was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (‘Jungle Cruise’) hits theaters. The new movie brilliantly adapts the source material without ever watering down the brutality of the character and absolutely elevates the DCEU in the process.

    In the new movie, Johnson plays Teth-Adam, a slave from the ancient city of Kahndaq who is given powers by the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from ‘Shazam!’) transforming him into the anti-hero Black Adam. But after saving his people he is imprisoned for five thousand years and is finally released in present day by university professor and Kahndaq resistance fighter Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi).

    Black Adam soon attracts the attention of U.S. Government Agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who dispatches the Justice Society of America to take Black Adam down before he becomes a threat. But once Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) arrive in Kahndaq, Adam does not take well to their warning.

    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate and Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    (L to R) Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate and Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    But when the leader of a terrorist organization known as Intergang seizes control of the ancient demon Sabbac, Adrianna must convince Black Adam and the Justice Society to put their differences aside and fight together as a team to save the world.

    It was only a matter of time before Dwayne Johnson starred in a live-action super hero movie, and I’m sure he has been offered other super hero roles to play over the years. In fact, rumor is he was given the choice between playing Shazam or Black Adam and chose the latter. That always seemed like an odd choice to me as Black Adam is Shazam’s archenemy in the comics, and Johnson is such a huge star and likable person, you’d think he’d want to play the hero?

    My biggest fear was that because Johnson was cast in the role, Black Adam would be made into a more heroic character, like we’ve seen with the ‘Venom’ movies. However, as DC Comics fans know, there was a brief arc in the late 90s and early 2000s where Black Adam did become a hero and joined the Justice Society. Even very recently in the comics, he had become good again and joined the ranks of the Justice League, so at least the idea of making him an anti-hero is not too far off from the source material.

    Director Jaume Collet-Serra skillfully pulls off the balancing act of having Black Adam be both the hero and villain at the same time. Adam’s origin story unfolds mysteriously throughout the film in flashbacks allowing the audience to learn about him as the other characters do. He is depicted as violent and brutal, but he also believes in justice and is willing to do anything to protect those that he loves, just like in the comics.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While Johnson plays the character more of a misguided hero than the true villain he is in the comics, the actor gives one of his best performances and is truly the only actor alive that could have pulled off this role physically. Just one look at him and you know he is a real threat for the Justice Society.

    Johnson’s performance reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s work in ‘The Terminator’ and ‘T2.’ Say what you will about Arnold’s acting abilities, but he was born to play that robot, and did so much with very little movement. Johnson does the same thing, communicating his emotions with very little movement or dialogue.

    The movie also reinforces the idea that the DCEU is still alive and well. While it’s no longer the dark “Snyderverse” that director Zach Snyder created with his trilogy (‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Batman v Superman,’ ‘Justice League’), those characters and events still exist. One of the early criticisms I’ve heard about the movie is that Collet-Serra tries too hard to recreate Snyder’s signature slow-motion fight scenes, and I actually didn’t see it that way.

    Yes, Collet-Serra does use slow-motion quite a bit, but I would compare it more to the use of slow-motion in the Quicksilver scenes from ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’ The slow-motion is not used for arbitrary reasons, but rather to highlight how fast Black Adam is moving, Dr. Fate’s magic, or how powerful Cyclone’s tornados are. I liked the use of slow-motion and thought it added to the action rather than distracting. Kudos to the editing team of John Lee and Michael L. Sale, who make all the action sequences pop.

    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The Justice Society is a great added attraction for DC fans but having them work for Amanda Waller felt a bit off. We last saw her own team stage a rebellion against her in ‘The Suicide Squad’ and it doesn’t make a lot of sense that the JSA is now taking orders from her, but it doesn’t really affect the plot, although sending Task Force-X, especially after the events of ‘Peacemaker,’ would have made more sense.

    Aldis Hodge is very strong as Hawkman and brings the stubbornness of the character from the comics. Pierce Brosnan was also a wonderful casting choice and has the right level of likability and gravitas for the role. Quintessa Swindell is a nice addition as Cyclone, but much of her backstory seemed cut from the film and unfortunately, she did not have a lot to do. The same could be said for Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, who is probably the weakest link in the cast, and isn’t given enough screen time to make an impact.

    Rounding out the cast is also a very good performance from Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz, who is the only person that can truly get through to Black Adam. The actress has very good chemistry with Johnson, and perhaps will be back in sequels as her comic book super hero alter-ego, Isis.

    I will say that there is a mid-credit scene that you will not want to miss which welcomes back a former DCEU actor and character. I don’t want to give it away, even though Johnson basically has while promoting the movie, but I will say that it promises an epic fight in the future of the franchise that is very exciting for DC fans.

    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    At the end of the day, ‘Black Adam’ pulls it off and delivers what it promised, a no-holds-barred approach to the popular DC character. While tweaking with the tone at times, the movie does stay true to the source material, and features a commanding star-turn from Dwayne Johnson. Watch out Marvel … DC is back!

    ‘Black Adam’ receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • ‘Black Adam’ Interview: Dwayne Johnson

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    Opening in theaters on October 21st is the new ‘Black Adam,’ which is based on characters from DC Comics and was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (‘Jungle Cruise’).

    The new movies stars Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, an anti-hero from the ancient city of Kahndaq who awakens in present day after five thousand years of imprisonment.

    He soon draws the attention of the Justice Society of America including Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan) and must team-up with them in order to stop a threat more powerful than Adam himself.

    In addition to Johnson, Hodge and Brosnan, the cast also includes Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dwayne Johnson in-person to talk about his work on ‘Black Adam,’ why fans should be excited for the movie, and why Black Adam was the right super hero for him to play.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Quintessa Swindell, Sarah Shahi, Mohammed Amer.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to your fans and DC Comics fans to get them pumped-up and ready to see this movie?

    Dwayne Johnson: Oh, get ready because we are going to deliver something I think that you are already anticipating. I think right now they are hearing rumblings that the movie is pretty good.

    They’re hearing rumblings about some other things that might be happening in the movie. They’re hearing rumblings about maybe somebody is joining us in this movie. They’re hearing a lot of rumblings.

    So, I would say get your popcorn, get to the theater, the biggest, most immersive theater you can, but also know this because we as actors, we sell our movies. Get to the movies, you got to see it on the biggest screen.

    I put all I had into this movie, and this has been a 10 plus year push, fight and journey to get it to this place where we could take something that I love, and I love the DC universe. I like Marvel and all those guys are my buddies.

    But I love DC and this opportunity that we have to expand the DC Universe, introduce five new beloved superheroes, or four and one anti-hero, it’s just a great opportunity. So, I hope that fans, when going to their theater, I hope they feel the passion and the fight that went into this in ‘Black Adam.’

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, I know it took a long time for you to get this movie made, and I’m sure you have been offered other super heroes to play over the years. Why was Black Adam the right character for you to portray on screen?

    DJ: Because he represented so many characteristics that I have. Now, what I mean by that because that’s a tough one for me to say, is just that I have reached a point in my life right now as I sit and talk to you where I’m confident in who I am.

    No one can tell me, “Hey, you can’t be like that. You have to walk like this, talk like this. Don’t call yourself “The Rock.” You can’t talk about pro wrestling. You’re too big, go lose weight.” All this stuff that I heard when I first got to Hollywood.

    So, I’m at a point now in my life where I feel so confident about my steps, and I feel so present with everyone I talk to, like you and anyone. And Black Adam is that way. He’s lived a life. He is confident. He steps with purpose and with passion, deep passion.

    Also, he does have great empathy and he does care about people who he loves, like I do. Now, if you mess with him, that’s a problem. You mess with me, that’s a problem. I’ll handle it. I might smile a little bit before I handle it, but it’s a difference.

    Dwayne Johnson stars as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson stars as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam.’
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