The dilemmas continued with his cinematographic leap. First, because the project would be led by Zachary Levi, an actor with vast experience, but scarred by his lukewarm previous portrayal of Fandral in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To this we add the comic tone of the film that was criticized by the most fervent fans of the then quasi-extinct Snyderverse who implored maturity above all else. Not even Black Adam wanted to share credits. This is because Dwayne Johnson pushed tirelessly to have his own story even though both warriors have common bases. With everything against it, but Shazam always rose. He now faces the toughest test of his existence: whether he has become a mainstay of the DC Universe.
New challenges
The change in command of the DC Universe, which is now headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran, has brought a wave of change to the franchise from which no one is safe. This hardly worries actor Zachary Levi, who recently joked about it.
“I’m sure most of you know who James Gunn is.”, declared the actor in convention. “Well, now he’s one of my bosses, which is great. Plus, he’s a friend of mine, which makes it even cooler. And then Peter Safran, who is his partner, is my producer: he produces the movie Shazam. So the question is: ‘If those are my two bosses, is there a plan and a future for Shazam?’ I would say ‘Yeah, I hope so. I hope so,’ because those are my friends, and if they don’t have a plan, then they’re not my friends anymore. No sir”.
Outside of kidding, if there is something that has saved Shazam from burning, it is how different it has always been from the rest of the DC Universe projects. While most movies introduced us to demigods, this movie introduced us to the most unlikely of heroes in the form of Billy Batson, a foster kid bent on reuniting with his mother. A story where the true superpower lies in the family, even those that are not united by blood, and by being part of something. All this, in addition, with an adventure that establishes its bases in the old childhood terror. Its success made it a breather for a franchise in need of oxygen and an example of the path to follow for salvation.
The formula is repeated with fury of the gods, with a more mature Billy fearful of all he might lose by coming of age. His existential dilemmas will coincide with the arrival of two new enemies, the daughters of Atlas, who will give the titular warrior very serious problems. Will the hero be able to save the future of his world and, by the way, his franchise? There are good reasons to believe.