‘Shazam’ Director Says Franchise Could Continue In New DCU But Only If People Support The New Film

When James Gunn announced the very ambitious slate of five films and five TV series that will kick off the new DCU, there were some notable absences. Namely, there was hardly anything (outside of “Peacemaker” and “The Suicide Squad” characters) crossing over from the previous universe to the new one. No “Wonder Woman 3.” No “Aquaman 3.” And no “Shazam 3.” What’s more, Gunn didn’t outright deny that any of those films could happen under his new regime. He just… didn’t mention them. This has led to some confusion about the future of some of these franchises, especially as Warner Bros. Discovery is on the verge of releasing “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” Unfortunately, the film’s director, David F. Sandberg doesn’t have too much information about the future of his own franchise.

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In a response to a tweet explaining why a fan isn’t going to support the movie (basically, one of those “James Gunn is the worst” trolls), David F. Sandberg explained that he believes the “Shazam” franchise could exist in the new DC Cinematic Universe. That is, as long as people support ‘Fury of the Gods.’ 

“He definitely won’t if people don’t go see the movie,” Sandberg tweeted about Shazam showing up in the new DCU. “What I’ve been told is that there’s nothing in the Shazam films that contradict the future plans for DC. So the possibility for more Shazam is there and if that’s what you want your best bet is to go see the film.”

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That said, it’s not looking too good for “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” at the box office. Early tracking has the film pulling in approximately $35 million opening weekend (well below the previous film and incredibly low for any modern, big-budget superhero film). Of course, that could all change if buzz builds thanks to good reviews, continued marketing, and quality word-of-mouth. However, for the “Shazam” franchise to be this undeniable force that Gunn and Peter Safran just can’t ignore, the sequel would really have to be an unbelievable hit. 

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As of now, it would appear that the first “Chapter” of the new DCU is jam-packed until at least 2028. That’s partially why many fans believe that Gunn isn’t going to keep any of the previous regime’s franchises in his new plan. If he waits long enough, he could easily bring in a new actor and start fresh for something like Shazam or even Wonder Woman. Then again, if the wheels fall off and “Superman: Legacy” bombs, perhaps we are at a point when Gunn and Safran have to go back to the previous characters and earn back some goodwill with audiences. 

All that to say, Sandberg isn’t wrong. If you go out and strongly support “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” there’s a higher likelihood that the franchise will survive. But even then, the odds are still not in your favor. 

“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” arrives in theaters on March 17.