Shazam! is the seventh film in the DC Extended Universe, but the first trailer already showed off its unique look and tone. Star Zachary Levi answered a fan's question on whether the film stands alone or if a viewer would have to be up-to-date on all DCEU offerings. Here's his answer:
He's such a good salesman. So Zachary Levi is saying the movie works on its own, but viewing is elevated if you've seen the previous movies in the franchise. These DCEU films do tend to connect to each other, so it would be strange if there weren't Easter eggs of some kind.
We already know there was supposed to be a cameo in Shazam! from the DCEU's current Superman, Henry Cavill. We found out Cavill wasn't doing it in the same report that alleged he might be done playing Superman. (Aquaman Jason Momoa recently said Cavill isn't going anywhere.) There were rumors about what the Superman cameo was supposed to be, but either way, it's not happening.
That said, Shazam! follows Aquaman in the DCEU, and exists in the same world as the Justice League and Suicide Squad heroes/worst heroes. Shazam! is the only film the DCEU has scheduled for 2019, but at this point they have at least two coming in 2020: Birds of Prey on February 7, 2020, and Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020.
Will Shazam! include any nods to those upcoming movies? Shazam is the first character to not be directly connected to the others and their respective films, from Man of Steel and Batman v Superman to Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Aquaman. But, as Zachary Levi said, the film will have nods to remind fans that it is set in the world of the other DC heroes.
Shazam! -- aka the other Captain Marvel -- just shared new footage at Brazil Comic-Con, and Zachary Levi got to meet some of his young fans. It's clear he's already making a big impression in the role.
Shazam! stars Asher Angel as teen orphan Billy Batson, who can magically transform into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi) by saying the magic word "Shazam." The film also stars Mark Strong, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, and Djimon Hounsou. Here's more of what we know about the movie so far.
Warner Bros. is opening Shazam! in theaters on April 5, 2019. It's one of the many, many films coming out in 2019. It'll have to survive the tight squeeze between the MCU's Captain Marvel on March 8 and Avengers: Endgame on April 26. Spring 2019 will be a very competitive box office season in general. We'll have to see which superheroes are truly ready to save the day.
