The era of the gods has arrived. And this time it’s all about the Daughters of Atlas. Shazam 2 is ready to rumble and by the looks of the WB sequel film, the audience thinks so too. Subtitled Fury of the Gods, the DC film will serve as a follow-up to the 2019 Shazam! which found Zachary Levi’s Billy Batson and his foster siblings powering up with the aid of ancient magic to protect the world and their loved ones. Made on a budget that is usually unexpected for a CBM film, the first movie lived up to the expectations of most viewers.
Now, with the sequel already knocking on our doorsteps, WB is preparing to bring the curtain down on its old era by launching the first of the three projects left from the DCEU showcase.
Shazam 2 Finally Finds Its Way Into the Theaters
Even though Shazam! faced a relatively quieter reception compared to its DCEU predecessors, the film hasn’t been without its fair share of charms. The innocent and naïve idealism contained within the notions of superheroes and their heroic acts found an underrated outlet in the Zachary Levi film. The movie which was made on a budget of $80-100 million then went on to secure an opening weekend earning of $53.5 million, and $366 million in its gross worldwide collection.
As such, the much-warranted sequel was not too long in coming. Shazam! Fury of the Gods received the studio’s approval after the first film’s incredible box office win. In 2019, at the São Paulo CCXP in Brazil, the sequel was announced to be put into motion. However, the pandemic and subsequent delays have launched and halted production multiple times along the way before Shazam 2 could finally find its way into the theaters.
WB Reveals Studio Budget For Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Days before its release, the announced budget of the film has thrown the fandom into a frenzy. DC has revealed that Shazam 2 was made on a budget not much more than that of its first film. And given how incredibly well-made and captivating the 2019 movie was, the fans do not find that to be a sufficient cause for nervousness or worry.
However, the narrative of Shazam! is more family-oriented than dominated by CGI and VFX-infused epic battles and glorious showdowns. Shazam 2 does not look to promise the same, especially with the addition of Hollywood namedrops like Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu. With the added cost of producing a film depicting battles between gods to save the planet that promises a return-on-investment worthy of an A-lister’s salary, the film’s $100 million budget seems a bit too good to be true.
Shazam 2 v Black Adam: The Former Finds Unexpected Hype
WB’s 2022 release, Black Adam has been veritably categorized as the black sheep of the DC family. The Rock’s film which was exposed to unprecedented fan support and enthusiasm failed to soar at the box office, despite its generous $260 million budget. Its worldwide collection currently stands a meager $8 mills short of the $400 million mark. In the months before its release, Black Adam had reportedly undergone extensive reshoots and post-production editing which further added to its otherwise $190 million budget.
Now, with Shazam 2‘s budget being marked at a humble $100 million, the fans have showered their love and appreciation for the film before its scheduled premiere.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods has been written by scriptwriters Henry Gayden, Chris Parker, and Bill Parker, and directed by David F Sandberg. The film’s cast will see returning actors like Asher Angel as Billy Batson and Adam Brody and Jack Dylan Grazer portraying the older and younger versions of Freddy respectively alongside newcomers Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler posing as Hesperia, Kalypso, and Anthea respectively.
Shazam 2 premieres on March 17, 2023.
Source: Twitter
