Zachary Levi, the star of Shazam! Fury of the Gods has responded to a recent report suggesting that Dwayne Johnson, who played Black Adam, had overruled a crossover in the film’s post-credits scene.
Johnson’s reluctance to have his character appear alongside Shazam had been previously reported, and the actor’s apparent disgust for the character is said to have contributed to the turndown.
Levi took to Instagram to comment on the situation, sharing a story with the caption “The truth shall set you free” and overlaying a caption from The Wrap’s article on the drama. Given their close ties to DC Comics, fans had been hoping to see the two heroes come together on the big screen.
How the Rock Sabotaged Shazam 2 and Black Adam
Johnson’s hatred of the Shazam franchise has been well-documented. His opposition to appearing alongside Levi and the Shazam Family has not ended well with fans or fellow DC stars. While Levi had previously expressed his openness to a crossover, he acknowledged that the decision was not in his hands.
The revelation that Johnson had shut down ideas of having Black Adam characters appear in the Fury of the Gods post-credits stinger is particularly disappointing, given the excitement surrounding the possibility of a Justice Society of America crossover.
While the news may be moot now that Johnson has left the franchise, it raises questions about his willingness to work with other DC actors. Given this situation’s negative attention, executives may be hesitant to reach out to Johnson for future projects.
The situation highlights the challenges of navigating shared universes and the delicate balance of egos and creative differences that can arise. Fans will have to wait and see if the new DC Studios regime will be able to bring the characters together in the future.
Shazam! Fury Of The Gods Poor Box-Office Return
Shazam! Fury Of The Gods opened in theaters on March 15 and was struggling to collect even $30 Million, though it has now earned $31 Million domestically and $66 Million worldwide; poor audience response for “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” means a lack of demand among core DC fans. The film will most likely end up losing money, with a budget of $125 Million and with no hope for the third movie in the franchise.
The Reason for Shazam! Fury of the Gods being a Flop
Although some might argue that the exclusion of Shazam from the DC multiverse, which is currently undergoing revisions by James Gunn and Peter Safran, has damaged its appeal, this was further compounded by marketing materials that were also considered silly and a perceived weakening of the movie’s central idea.
