How Does Shazam! Fit Into the DC Movie Universe?

Currently, the DC Extended Universe is in a bit of an interesting place at Warner Bros.Suicide Squadis doing very well at the box office, but much like its predecessorBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, it has been absolutely slammed by critics. Fortunately there are some projects on the horizon that fans can still be potentially excited about. The firstWonder Womantrailer was very encouraging,Justice Leagueis looking to be an improvement and of course,Dwayne Johnson’s long gestatingShazam!is still alive and well. Things have been fairly quiet in terms of updates, but The Rock’s producer and managerDany Garicajust gave some new details on the project.

Speaking withNewsweek, Garcia not only confirmed that the project is moving ahead as scheduled, be she also clarified how exactly the movie will fit in with the rest of theDCEU. According to her, it will live in the same world asMan of SteelandSuicide Squad, but it will very much be its own thing. Here is what she had to say.

“Shazam! is to live in the same world [as the other films] but we have incredible autonomy over this brand and franchise. We are working with a different team, different producers, directors… it’s a different set-up. … We don’t feel fettered by, or constrained by, the successes or failures and challenges of the other projects. That was a key component to our participation - that we be able to control the tone and the voice, and do it the way we want to.”

Johnson, who is playing the villainBlack Adamin the movie, has become one of the most prolific and in-demand stars in Hollywood, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t want to be overly constrained by the larger hand ofGeoff Johnsand those at Warner Bros. overseeing the DECU. It also probably helps thatShazam!is being done at New Line, the sister studio for Warner Bros. So while it is going to fit in with the DCEU, it will be able to stand a bit more on its own, at least according toGarcia, who also gave an update as to where they are at in the production process.

“We’re getting [script] drafts in… it’s important to ensure we get the tone right for Black Adam, which is Dwayne’s part. We don’t mind taking our time. We’re being very careful with each act and scene to go back and layer in as much as possible. … We’ve got so many wonderful superhero franchises out there… we don’t need to run away from them and say ‘we can’t be that,’ but it’s important to understand what are the best aspects of a Batman [movie] versus Avengers versus Deadpool? What are the elements people are responding to? We want to move the needle.”

Shazam!isn’t due out until 2019, and a lot could happen between now and then. If Warner Bros. faces a couple of more rough outings with critics, they could start to see diminishing returns on their DCEU movies, and by the time 2019 comes around, their plans could change altogether. However, it sounds likeShazam!is independent enough of those movies that it could still move ahead with or without Warner Bros. overarching plans, which is good for The Rock and good for fans of the property.Garciadidn’t say this, but what she did have to say implies it wouldn’t be difficult to detach this project entirely, as the connective tissue isn’t super heavy.

“It needs to be of the world. You’ve got Justice League, Wonder Woman with a different director, so you’re going to see different points of view. I think by the time we land with [Shazam!] we’ll fit nicely within the world that’s been created, but not such a shorthand relationship. [It’ll be] enough that people say, ‘Oh, this is within the family,’ but the culture will be a little different.”

There are a lot of DCEU movies slated to come out beforeShazam!finally does hit theaters. Next year will see the release ofWonder WomanandJustice League, and 2018 has bothAquamanandThe Flashconfirmed. Not only that, but the studio has a couple of untitled superhero projects slated in 2018 and 2019, as well as theJustice Leaguesequel in June 2019. By the time it does come around, Warner Bros. and the DCEU may very well need the “franchise Viagra” that isDwayne The Rock Johnson. Maybe that long rumored fight withSupermancould do the trick?Shazam!is currently slated for an June 08, 2025 release date.