'Shazam 2' Rumored to Begin Filming Next Year

With the film industry still in a state of flux due to COVID-19, movie fans all over are eager for any news they can get about upcoming features and when they might expect to see them. As someone who lives her life looking forward to the next big film premiere, I for one am grateful for any positive news to be found, especially in the wake of Wonder Woman 1984 and Black Widow's repeated reschedules. In this time of great uncertainty, especially with tentpole films like Mulan heading to streaming, even news of continued production gives us hope that we will see our favorite heroes on the big screen again sometime soon.

The DCEU has been moving forward with various announcements despite the pandemic, and is set to unveil even more exciting info about upcoming projects this coming weekend at DC FanDome -- a free, 24-hour virtual fan experience full of panels, cosplay, and more. Leading up to FanDome, we have learned bits and pieces about what projects are currently coming down the pipeline, including Shazam 2, the sequel to 2019's Shazam! According to The Illuminerdi, the sequel, starring Zachary Levi and Asher Angel, is slated to begin production in the spring of 2021, with a tentative release date of November 4, 2022.

While we do not know a ton of information about the sequel yet, the original core crew is expected to return, including David F. Sandberg (director), Peter Safran (producer), and Henry Gayden (writer). This bodes well for fans, considering the first Shazam! opened to resounding critical and fan reception, earning a 90% from critics and an 82% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hopefully, with a release date so far in the future, the production will have time to deal with any COVID-19-related setbacks, and should allow for plenty of time for proper story-building. Black Adam, a DCEU film starring Dwayne Johnson, is slated to be released in 2021, meaning that it could potentially tie into Shazam 2 in favor of expanding the DCEU and tying multiple films together through a cohesive storyline. It would make sense, with Black Adam traditionally being a nemesis to Shazam (or Captain Marvel, as he used to be called).

Shazam! left a lot of doors open for plotlines in the sequel, especially given that (SPOILER ALERT!) Billy's foster siblings inherit Shazam's powers as well by the end of the film. With a host of characters to play with and tons of comic material left to draw inspiration from, it is clear that there are many paths the Shazam! sequel can take.

Check out the DC FanDome Shazam! panel this Saturday at 4:35pm PST to learn just what the filmmakers might have in store. The description for the panel hints that the cast is sworn to secrecy when it comes to the details of Shazam 2. However, we are sure that they will give us some general idea about what to expect. A few surprise guests are expected to make appearances, which could have something to do with the Superman cameo at the end of Shazam! Zachary Levi will be in attendance, as well as co-stars Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Megan Good, and Adam Brody. The director, David Sandberg, will be there as well, and we are hopeful that they will have lots of fun stories about the first film, if not some exciting information about the second one as well.

And if you would like to learn more about other upcoming DC projects, be sure to check out the full schedule for DC FanDome. The Black Adam panel, which will be held at 3:10pm, is sure to hint at some possible connections to the upcoming Shazam! sequel, and other panels such as the Wonder Woman 1984 panel at 10:00am will offer a potentially awesome sneak peak at what the upcoming DC movie has in store for us.

Written by Alex Cherry

Syndicated from Culture Slate