Shazam! Fury of the Gods Brings Back Zachary Levi

The long-awaited DC superhero sequel Shazam Fury of the Gods is coming to theaters March 17, and it’s bringing back Zachary Levi as the beloved hero.

This time, Batson must face off against Hespera (Dame Helen Mirren), the goddess of war. She’s joined by her own dragon, Kalypso, played by Lucy Liu.

Director David F. Sandberg

David F. Sandberg is a Swedish film director and producer who made a name for himself in the horror genre with shorts such as Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation. He also provided the voice of Mister Mind in Shazam!

Born and raised in Jonkoping, Sweden, Sandberg started out working in a video rental store where he learned about film making. He was inspired to direct after he saw The Conjuring Universe spin-off Annabelle: Creation.

After directing a short film in 2013, he went on to direct a feature film. He also wrote and produced the horror film The Culling, which he co-directed with his wife Lotta Losten. They are married, and have four children. He is also active on YouTube, where he makes videos about filmmaking and provides insight on production.

Zachary Levi

Levi’s return to the DC Comics universe comes amid a lot of upheaval. New studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are reconfiguring the DC film, TV and animation division and many fans have expressed concern about the changes.

In a live-streamed Instagram post on Sunday, Levi defended the new DC studio headship, claiming that he’s not privy to their decisions and urged audiences to “stay patient.” He also reassured Shazam! followers that the sequel is “wiser, stronger, faster, funnier and overall, cooler” than 2019’s Shazam!

Billy Batson and his foster siblings are once again called by the Wizard to battle a great evil. This time, they face off against The Daughters of Atlas, a family of demigods led by Helen Mirren’s Hespera and Lucy Liu’s Kalypso.

Asher Angel

Asher Angel isn’t a superhero herself, but she plays Billy Batson and has a huge role to play in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which is set to hit theaters in March 2023.

The first film was self-contained, with references to the greater DC Universe and a cameo from Superman from the neck down, but now that James Gunn and Peter Safran have become co-chairmen of the DC Studios, Asher Angel is hopeful for his character’s place in the future of the DC Extended Universe.

In a recent interview with Sean, Asher Angel said that he’s excited about the new direction that Gunn and Safran are taking the DC Extended Universe in and hopes that his character will meaningfully join the rest of the superheroes. He also stated that he’d like to see other DC heroes interact with Shazam!

Helen Mirren

Multi-time Oscar winner Helen Mirren is joining Shazam! Fury of the Gods in an unspecified role as Hespera, one of the Daughters of Atlas.

While the actress is best known for her work in prestige dramas, she has also appeared in a variety of superhero films including Fast & Furious and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, she’s taking on a villainous role in Shazam!

In the new trailer, Mirren and fellow Daughters of Atlas Hespera (Lucy Liu) compel Billy Batson to give up his powers before they destroy the world. But the film also showcases Rachel Zegler as Anthea, and even manages to sneak in a few Game of Thrones references along the way. The trailer ends with a big fight between the heroes and their nemesis, riding a dragon, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Lucy Liu

The DC Comics character Shazam is bestowed with the powers of six gods: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. Billy Batson, aka Shazam, is still a kid trying to navigate high school and learn how to use his new superpowers.

The first trailer for Fury of the Gods gave us a glimpse of what’s in store for Billy, Shazam and his foster siblings as they fight off the Daughters of Atlas. But it also teased what’s in store for the rest of the movie, as Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu join the team.

Mirren’s Hespera and Liu’s Kalypso don’t have any direct counterparts in DC Comics, so director Sandberg has pretty much free rein with them. And the latest trailer proves that’s exactly what she does.