Zachary Levi Doubts His Future as Shazam in the DCU After SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS
Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Zachary Levi is unsure about his future as the superhero Shazam in the DCU after his last movie ended up having a disappointing box office run.
That first Shazam! movie was great! But, the sequel just didn’t quite do it for fans. It’s kind of a shame because Levi really does embody this character so well and he gives a fun, energetic performance.
Levi recently joined The FilmUp Podcast to talk about his career as an actor and filmmaker, and when Shazam! was brought up in the conversation, the actor revealed that he has no idea what going on with the franchise now that James Gunn and Peter Safran are leading the charge. He said:
“I don’t know what the future holds, because Fury of the Gods was not well received. I have no idea where we go from here.”
I think it’s safe to say that Warner Bros. and DC Studios are going to just move forward without him. Money talks and if Shazam! isn’t making money, the studio isn’t going to waste any more time and money on it. Levi went on to share his thoughts on the “insanely unkind” people that trashed the sequel saying:
“The audience score is still quite good, but the critics’ score was very oddly and perplexingly low, and people were insanely unkind. I’ve been a part of things, and as much as I wish they were good, I know they’re okay. I know that they miss a lot. And I’m not saying ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ is some perfect, Orson Welles-like masterpiece, but it’s a good darn movie.”
Levi previously defended Gunn and Safran when they took over DC Studios and he shared his hopes for his future as Shazam, saying:
“I’ve known Peter Safran for years because he’s my boss. He’s now my boss-boss, but he’s been my boss as my producer. And I’ve known James for years and been a fan of his work for years. I think he’s a visionary kind of guy. He really understands world building, and I trust that they’re going to come up with some really cool avenues and directions for all of them. Not just Shazam [and] the Shazamily, but all the characters within DCU to go live really cool lives and make cool movies. And wherever they collide me into them, I will be stoked.”
What do you think is going to happen with the future of Shazam? Do you think Levi will reprise his role again at some point, or do you think he’s done?