The DCEU has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but many would agree that one of the bright spots of the franchise was 2019's Shazam! . Directed by David F. Sandberg, the film follows the heroic origin story of Billy Batson, played by Asher Angel, as he transforms into the powerful Shazam , portrayed by Zachary Levi.
Shazam! introduced the concept of magic into the DCEU while also teasing the arrival of Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam along the way. On top of that, members of the Shazam family also debuted in the final battle against Mark Strong's Dr. Sivana .
Given the success of the 2019 DCEU blockbuster, a sequel in the form of Shazam! Fury of the Gods has been confirmed to arrive on June 2, 2023. While fans are waiting for the follow-up, an interesting tidbit has emerged on social media about the Zachary Levi-led project.
SHAZAM FAN DEBATE
Twitter user @shaymus_ recently asked Shazam! director David F. Sandberg if the scene where the titular hero gathered his family inside the Rock of Eternity is in the actual finished version of the film.
Alright @ponysmasher please end this debate. Was this the post credit scene of the movie or not? Because when I saw Shazam this scene was there, but others are saying it was a scene with Mr Mind? https://t.co/fLBYSqDhb2
Sandberg responded by pointing out that the scene was “never in the finished movie,” admitting that they “cut it since the end was dragging:”
Sounds like a Mandela effect thing. It was never in the finished movie, we cut it since the end was dragging. It was only included as a deleted scene.
Another Twitter user, @ItsAnabTech , insisted that the scene in question was in the movie, with the fan sharing that he was able to discuss with his friend about “who is the 7th seat for” in the throne room:
Nope it was in the movie, definitely not a mandela effect Infact i remember discussing with my friend who is the 7th seat for and what will it mean for future story lines It could be different regions could have presented movie differently
The director then unveiled the true story behind the Shazam! sequence, firmly stating that “it's only ever been a deleted scene released as an extra:”
This is so weird. People keep arguing they saw Shazam with the throne scene in it, but we cut it early on. Never finished vfx/DI and the music is taken from another scene. It's only ever been a deleted scene released as an extra. I don't think we even had it in test screenings. https://t.co/WbpGyOsCRc pic.twitter.com/cp669mZryG
Ultimately, Sandberg posted a poll on Twitter to give fans a chance to choose their own take regarding the whole ordeal:
Did you see Shazam with the throne scene in it?
As of writing, fans who voted “No” hold 60.6% of the votes while those who voted “Yes” hold 39.4%.
IS THIS SCENE REALLY IN 2019'S SHAZAM?
Part of the fun of social media is for fans to engage with directors and cast members about certain movies or series, and this debate is a prime example of that.
For starters, back in 2019, it was revealed that the scene in question was a deleted scene from Shazam! , and the official name of the clip is “Family of Thrones.” This mirrors the same sentiments of Sandberg in his latest tweets, thus debunking the rumblings that this footage was featured in the theatrical cut.
However, this development still prompts the question as to why some fans have recalled that they saw the clip as a post-credits scene back in 2019. Sandberg pointed out that the Mandela effect could be the culprit, and evidence suggests that he might be correct.
For context, the Mandela effect is defined as an unusual phenomenon where a large group of people remembers something differently than how it occurred. This could be happening to the 39.4% subset that voted yes in Sandberg's poll, with them realizing that the “Family of Thrones” sequence ended up in the final cut.
On top of that, it's reasonable to assume that the pandemic may have contributed to the confusion, considering that movie theaters have yet to reopen in major markets and that 2019 feels like ages ago due to the so-called new normal.
On the flip side, it's possible that the scene in question did end up in the final cut of the film in some global territories. The weird thing about all of this is the notion that this bit is only being brought up now instead of the film's theatrical run back in 2019.
Whatever the case, this debate should serve as an advantage for Shazam! Fury of the Gods since it essentially dials more hype for the sequel.
