2019's Shazam! became a hit when it premiered in theaters due to its right mix of family drama, humor, and superhero action. As a result, it didn't take long before Warner Bros. and DC greenlit a sequel in the form of Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
The sequel will see the return of the main cast from the first film such as Zachary Levi's Shazam, Asher Angel's Billy Batson, and Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy Freeman. Plot details of Fury of the Gods are still being kept under wraps, but it has been confirmed that the titular hero will duke it out against Helen Mirren's Hespera and Lucy Liu's Kalypso.
After a COVID-19-infused delay, production is finally underway for the sequel in Atlanta, Georgia. The start of filming provided fans with a slew of updates about the upcoming film, ranging from the emergence of updated costumes all the way to new details about its narrative.
A key reveal from the updates is the comeback of an important cast member, and a new set photo has confirmed this report.
DJIMON HOUNSOU'S DCEU RETURN
Twitter user @DCsDoctorFate unearthed a new set photo from the production of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, confirming the return of Djimon Hounsou's Ancient Wizard from the first film:
Murphy's Multiverse's Oscar Wilde pointed out that this sequence is not a flashback, and it will be set in the present day.
Hounsou's return in Fury of the Gods was first reported by Murphy's Multiverse.
A KEY WIZARD FROM SHAZAM!
The confirmation that Djimon Hounsou's Ancient Wizard will return in Shazam! Fury of the Gods raises more questions than answers. The initial speculation that the character will be involved in a flashback sequence is understandable.
For starters, the wizard died during the events of the first film, turning into dust after passing his powers to Billy Batson. However, it's possible that he was transferred to another magical dimension after the transfer.
In a world full of mystical beings and a team filled with superheroes, this theory makes narrative sense, and it's reasonable to assume that this plot point will be addressed in the sequel.
The DCEU is no stranger to bringing back dead characters as evidenced by the return of Henry Cavill's Superman after Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Fury of the Gods is poised to do the same thing, but an additional twist could still be in store.
Given that the multiverse is the next big thing for the DCEU, there's a chance that this Ancient Wizard could come from an alternate reality. It remains to be seen how the time meddling of Ezra Miller's Flash will affect other projects, but it's plausible that the events of Fury of the Gods will be impacted in some way.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to release in theaters on June 2, 2023.
