The release date for Shazam! Fury of the Gods' new trailer has been announced, coming just ahead of James Gunn and Peter Safran's expected DCU slate reveal.
Earlier this month, Shazam 2 director David F. Sandberg teased that the film's second full trailer would drop before the end of January.
However, he wasn't the only DCU creative to make a January promise.
New DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had also claimed the first DCU reboot announcements would be made at the start of 2023.
Now, thanks to a new Warner Bros. announcement, DC fans finally know exactly when Shazam 2's trailer will arrive, suggesting that Gunn and Safran's anticipated announcement will follow in the days to come.
Shazam 2's New Trailer to Debut Tomorrow
Warner Bros. Brazil posted an Instagram story announcing that Shazam 2's trailer will debut on Thursday, January 26.
This puts the new trailer just days ahead of the upcoming slate reveal for DC Studios' next set of films, which is expected to debut before the end of the month according to studio co-CEO James Gunn.
The announcement was accompanied by the debut of a new synopsis and poster that features the full cast of heroes and villains.
Meanwhile, the new synopsis teases the new Daughters of Atlas villains - played by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler - as "a vengeful trio of ancient gods" who have returned to Earth in "search of the magic stolen from them long ago," forcing them into battle with the Shazam family:
"Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world."
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the sequel to the original 2019 film starring Zachary Levi and reunites most of the original cast.
Whether the Shazam! franchise will continue within the reimagined DCU remains to be seen ahead of the upcoming slate reveal. But the latest comments from Levi sound rather promising as he eased fears of a potential recast:
"Oooh, I really wouldn’t go believing everything you see on the internet. I’m Gucci, Ash. We all Gucci. "
What Shazam 2's Timing Means for DC Studios
This marketing move from Warner Bros. is likely to distance the Shazam! sequel from potentially being overshadowed by whatever news DC will be revealing within the next week.
It's a smart move since reversing the order of announcements could lead to fans questioning Shazam!'s future instead of hyping the upcoming film.
This year will be a balancing act for Warner Bros. and DC Studios as former DCU films still need to be promoted while the new studio tackles the reboot.
Shazam 2 just happens to be the first film on the docket; however, it may have the best chance of surviving the overhaul.
After all, Peter Safran is one of the film's producers, and Zachary Levi was recently spotted on vacation with Safran and his family.
Increasing its odds is the fact that the original Shazam! has few connections to the old DCU and Justice League.
But regardless of what DC Studios ultimately have planned for Levi and Shazam!, it's unlikely that Gunn and Safran will include the fate of the franchise in their January announcement in order to keep public interest in Fury of the Gods.
Still, the film itself may hold a few hints or even answers, and Shazam 2's trailer means audiences are one step closer to Gunn and Safran's new slate.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods arrives in theaters on March 17.
