According to a new report, Zachary Levi’s Shazam was initially planned to be featured in Black Adam before Dwayne Johnson was against the inclusion.
This article may contain minor spoilers for Shazam! Fury of the Gods is now in theaters
Black Adam Star Dwayne John was reported to have opposed the use of Zachary Levi’s Shazam in one of the 2022 post-credits scenes.
According to The Wrap Two top Hollywood insiders revealed that Johnson personally vetoed a proposed post-credits sequence in Black Adam, which would have been a scene in which Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), as well as the other members of the Justice Society, offer Levi’s Shazam a spot on the superhero team. Though it was removed from the 2022 movie The scene was later repurposed for the post-credits scene of Shazam! Fury of Gods. Instead of the Justice Society, Peacemaker characters Emilia Harcourt and John Economos were shown attempting to recruit Billy into the Justice Society on behalf of Amanda Waller.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Zachary Levi has since responded to the report by posting his Instagram story. On March 21, Levi shared a post that referenced The Wrap’s report and added in the caption: “The truth shall set you free.” The official confirmation of the first report regarding Johnson’s involvement in Fury of the Gods post-credit scene is not yet available.
Related: Black Adam Seemingly Retconned the Shazam! Major! Plot Point
Insiders at The Wrap also pointed out that Johnson was unaware of Black Adam’s connection with Shazam! Fury of the Gods was a box office failure. They also pointed out that Johnson worked hard to undermine the Shazam! franchise in public, mostly through the hints of a possible battle between Superman and Black Adam despite the latter being Shazam’s arch-nemesis. Johnson acknowledged Black Adam‘s mid-credits scene in which his antihero met Superman. Henry Cavill played the role of the final one.
James Gunn Did Not Initiate Black Adam in His Initial DCU Plans
Johnson has repeatedly expressed his desire to see the Black Adam’s DC Universe journey end with the release of a Black Adam against Superman film. Johnson said that any further DCU plans that involved Black Adam were put in limbo due to Gunn Safran, Gunn, and their 10-year vision for the shared universe. Johnson also revealed that he’d talked to James Gunn, and Black Adam was not part of their first chapter. “However DC and Seven Bucks have agreed to explore the most valuable ways Black Adam can be used in the future DC multiverse stories.”
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What does the future hold for Shazam?
Shazam! Fury of the Gods released before the beginning of Gunn and Safran’s rebooted DCU, many fans have wondered if Levi will continue to portray Shazam, the movie’s main character, or if the Shazam franchise may also be put on hold. Although there’s no information regarding the new timeline for Gunn, Levi stated previously that an impressive performance at the box office would show that DC Studios still has a curiosity for Shazam and the Shazam Family. However, Fury of the Gods has so far underperformed at the box office and has been a lot less successful than the $53.5 million Shazam!, its predecessor. Shazam!, opened in the year 2019. With the release of The Flash slated to reboot the shared universe’s timeline and fans might have seen the end of Levi’s Shazam in the DCU.
Black Adam is available to stream on HBO Max while Shazam! Fury of the Gods is currently showing in cinemas.