SHAZAM! Director David F. Sandberg Almost Helmed VENOM
It turns out that director David F. Sandberg was once in a situation where he was pursuing two big comic book movie opportunities… Shazam! for DC and Venom for Sony Pictures. It seems like both projects were his for the taking, but he could only choose one.
Obviously, he chose Shazam!, which he did a great job with! I can’t help but think that had he directed Venom, it would have been a better film, especially with Sandberg's eye for horror. That would have been interesting, but we’ll never know what his vision for Venom would have been.
Sandberg recently shared some insight on his decision to choose Shazam! over Venom, saying: "I read the script and had a meeting about Venom, but I was already going down the path of Shazam!, and felt that I'd rather do that than pursue Venom.” He then kindly added: “I thought Venom turned out quite good, though."
Sandberg’s next film to be released will be DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and I just hope that it will be as entertaining and fun as the first film.
The movie “will continue the story of teenage Billy Batson, who upon reciting the magic word ‘SHAZAM!’ is struck by the Living Lightning of the gods and transformed into his adult superhero alter ego, Shazam. He has the powers of six gods: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.”
David F. Sandberg is back as the director and the characters and cast in the film include Billy Baston (Asher Angel and Zachary Levi), Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody), Eugene (Ian Chen and Ross Butler), Pedro (Jovan Armand and D.J. Cotrona), Darla (Faithe Herman and Meagan Good), and Mary (Grace Fulton and Michelle Borth). Helen Mirren is taking on the role of Hespera and Lucy Liu is playing Kalypso.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to open in theaters in March 2023.