WARNING: This article contains Shazam! Fury of the Gods SPOILERS
After Shazam! Fury of the Gods, audiences may be wondering: Will Shazam be in James Gunn's DC Universe now? It's a fair question, since Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran recently announced plans for the first chapter of their DC Universe, titled Gods & Monsters. Before that officially launches with Superman: Legacy in 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery has a few DC movies to release that are leftover from the previous regime. One of those is Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Now that Shazam! Fury of the Gods is hitting theaters worldwide, those checking out the new DC movie may be curious about whether it's the final outing for Zachary Levi and Asher Angel's Shazam or if there's a chance for the duo to reprise the superhero in Gunn's new universe. The Shazam 2 post-credits scenes offer some clues about the character's DC future, but ultimately it depends upon how well the movie does at the box office. Here, we break down if Shazam is in Gunn's DC Universe now.
James Gunn Refused To Confirm Shazam’s Canonicity
At the DC Studios presentation in January, Gunn and Safran didn't confirm whether characters from any of the remaining DCEU movies would continue on in the new DC Universe. However, Shazam! Fury of the Gods' director David F. Sandberg said he's been told there's nothing in the movie to "contradict" Gunn and Safran's plans and if it's successful, there could be more Shazam. If that's the case, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has already paved the way for the hero to continue in the DC Universe.
Shazam 2’s Post-Credits Scenes Use James Gunn Characters
It seems that, if Shazam! Fury of the Gods earns back its budget and becomes a success, Shazam could potentially appear in the DC Universe, especially considering the first credits scene uses Gunn's characters. Both Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee) appear in the Shazam 2 post-credits scene, looking to recruit Shazam to the Justice Society. These characters appeared in Gunn's The Suicide Squad before starring in the Peacemaker spinoff. They're becoming the Nick Fury of the DC Universe, seemingly setting up a future for Shazam as part of the Justice Society — if the Justice Society also makes it to Gods & Monsters.
Currently, Peacemaker season 2 is still expected to be part of Gunn's DC Universe future, though the filmmaker said he doesn't know when it'll release. The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker spinoff about Viola Davis' Amanda Waller was confirmed to be part of Gods & Monsters. As such, it would appear this corner of the DCEU — and, potentially, any involving Economos and Harcourt — will continue on in the new DC Universe. The Flash movie, which will "reset" the universe, could be used to explain the soft reboot of the franchise, allowing certain characters to remain while others are recast, like Henry Cavill's Superman.
Shazam’s DC Universe Future Hinges On The Box Office
Whether Shazam will be in the DC Universe ultimately relies on how well Shazam! Fury of the Gods performs at the box office. When Sandberg commented on Shazam's future, he encouraged fans to go see the movie if they want to see more of the DC character. That implies Shazam's future could go either way depending on whether there's a demonstrable audience. If Shazam! Fury of the Gods' box office is successful, then it could mean Gunn and Safran greenlight Shazam 3 and incorporate Levi's hero into Gods & Monsters. But, if the movie underperforms, then Fury of the Gods may be the last appearance of Shazam.
Prior to Shazam! Fury of the Gods' release, the movie was tracking for a $35-40 million opening weekend, which would be under the 2019 movie's $53 million debut. Although the sequel is opening in a much different theatrical landscape, those numbers may be indicative of a less successful box office run. If Shazam! Fury of the Gods ends up earning less than the original movie, especially if it fails to break even, that could be the nail in the coffin for this DC franchise. That said, it's possible WBD and DC Studios have adjusted their expectations for Shazam 2's box office based on a couple different factors.
Studios are aware of the different theatrical landscape, and WBD may also factor in Shazam! Fury of the Gods' HBO Max release when determining the film's success. That's all to say, Shazam 2 may earn slightly less at the box office and still get a DC Universe future, but if it underperforms too much, then it won't. Ultimately, the final box office tally will inform whether Gods & Monsters utilizes the Shazam future setup in the Fury of the Gods credits scenes. Until then, it remains to be confirmed if Shazam will be in Gunn's DC Universe after Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
