Zachary Levi Breaks Silence on His Shazam Future in the New DC Universe!

by

Zachary Levi, in a chat with Variety, openly discussed the ongoing speculation about his potential continuation as Shazam in the emerging DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. He shared his fondness for the character and readiness to reprise the role, but emphasized that any decisions regarding his return are currently beyond his control. This conversation unfolds as the new strategy of DC Studios for a cohesive cinematic universe accelerates, with significant superhero roles being reassigned and the upcoming releases underscoring the demise of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which featured Levi’s portrayal.

As a movie critic, I can wholeheartedly say that I thoroughly enjoyed portraying the magical superhero in both Shazam! (2019) and its sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). If given the opportunity to reprise this role again, count me in! However, when it comes to specific plans for my character in the new DCU, I’m afraid I’m just as much in the dark as you are. It seems decisions at that level are far beyond my pay grade.

Although Levi appears eager to reprise his role as Shazam, it’s highly doubtful due to several factors. The first Shazam! movie received praise from critics and raked in a substantial $367.8 million at the global box office against a $100 million budget. However, its sequel only managed to earn $134.1 million worldwide, indicating a significant financial letdown for Warner Bros. Discovery. Furthermore, Levi has been embroiled in numerous controversies recently. For instance, he faced criticism for endorsing vaccine skepticism following a tweet in January 2023 where he agreed that Pfizer could pose a threat to the world. Additionally, during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, his remarks at Manchester Comic Con about the rules preventing him from discussing his previous work being “so dumb” drew flak. Later, he clarified that he supported his union but felt frustrated by certain restrictions.

In simpler terms, after the demise of Broadway actor Gavin Creel, Levi posted an article about his passing with a mysterious comment about “the truth,” which was seen by many as a thoughtless attempt to politicize the sad event, given that Creel had previously been open about his myocarditis diagnosis and Levi’s perceived hesitance towards vaccines. Additionally, Levi sparked more online controversy when he publicly shared and commented on speculations and fan theories accusing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson of intentionally hindering the success and crossover potential of the Shazam franchise alongside Black Adam.

The DCU’s Extensive Plans Don’t Include Shazam (So Far)

The forthcoming strategies for the DC Universe (DCU) are veering away from superheroes and actors associated with the DCEU who were met with criticism, like Zachary Levi’s portrayal of Shazam. Officially, the new DCU commenced in late 2024 with the release of the animated series Creature Commandos, which was created by Gunn. This initial seven-episode season presented a covert team of monsters and referenced numerous established DC characters and locales, such as Themyscira, A.R.G.U.S., and the Justice League. At this point, Shazam has not been integrated into the official storyline.

After the debut of “Creature Commandos”, the DC Universe’s major stage is set with James Gunn’s “Superman” taking the lead, featuring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult. On the Max streaming platform, John Cena stars in “Peacemaker” Season 2, which will air after “Superman”. In the year 2026, DC Studios plans to unveil the Max series “Lanterns”, the DCU film “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”, and a movie centered on Clayface, penned by Mike Flanagan. These projects aim to broaden the universe and provide insights into how traditional heroes coexist within it, potentially hinting at a fresh take on Shazam.

Superman is scheduled to fly into theaters on July 11th.

Read More

2025-05-23 10:18