Shazam 2 is in the works, as officially revealed by New Line and Warner Bros. However, the 2022-bound sequel to the $364 million worldwide cinematic DC Comics smash could not withstand the COVID-19 pandemic, and will now see its release date significantly altered.
Warner Bros. has rescheduled the release date for the untitled Shazam 2 to the late-fall date of November 4, 2022. The new date represents a move from its originally announced release date of April 1 for that year, representing a 7-month shift back. Indeed, it was part of one fell swoop on Warner’s part regarding upcoming DC movies that included moving franchise relaunch The Batman from its June 25, 2021 release to October 1 of that year. However, intriguingly enough, the long-mooted solo film for The Flash is getting moved up to June 3, 2022 instead of July 1 that year. Additionally, the films’ continuity cousin sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, recently saw its release date shifted to August 14 of this year after it was previously set for June 5.
While no plot or cast details were revealed, Warner Bros. is sticking with its winning formula, since director David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation, Lights Out) is confirmed to return to the job, working off a script by Henry Gayden, who wrote the final draft of the first film’s screenplay.
Said winning formula also includes star Zachary Levi, whose signature goofy gravitas provided the perfect contrast to his jacked appearance as the power-imbued embodiment of young Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) superheroic alter-ego, giving the movie an intriguing coming-of-age approach (perhaps akin to 1988 comedy Big). The film also managed to codify its DCEU connectivity, notably with a Superman-teasing closing scene. Moreover, it quickly planted sequel seeds by expanding its comic-inspired story, with Billy sharing his magic-endowed powers with his foster siblings, who became the movie manifestations of Lady Shazam, Shazam Thunder, Shazam Strong, and Shazam Lightning. Plus, the mid-credits scene introduced us to the big screen version of the hero’s inch-high antagonist, the psychic-powered caterpillar, Mister Mind.
Released back on April 3, 2019, Shazam proved to be a diamond in the DC Extended Universe rough (just as Wonder Woman and Aquaman had), and the studio seemed destined to shout the potent word for a sequel, despite the fact that no official confirmation had been made until now. However, a spinoff movie for the hero’s signature nemesis, Black Adam, headlined by megastar Dwayne Johnson, has been on Warner’s DCEU backlog for several years now, and was recently christened with a release date for December 22, 2021 – that was less than four months before the previously scheduled April 1, 2022 Shazam 2 release date! Coincidence? We think not!
With so many comic book tropes already established, it will be interesting to see how Black Adam complements the Shazam sequel, and what having the film industry’s top-grossing star in the role of a presumed enemy will mean for the shape of the franchise going forward.
We will certainly keep you updated here on Shazam! 2 as the news arrives!
Joseph Baxter is a contributor for Den of Geek and Syfy Wire. You can find his work here. Follow him on Twitter @josbaxter.
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From https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/shazam-2-release-date/
