It was difficult to know exactly what to think of SHAZAM! during the past few months, but audiences seem to be loving this lighter-toned superhero film which stars Zachary Levi as the titular hero. Just days after its premiere, SHAZAM! has received considerable critical praise and garnered $159 million worldwide so far, so it likely won't come as a huge surprise that a sequel is already in the works.
The Wrap has reported that Henry Gayden, who penned the screenplay for the first film, is onboard to script the SHAZAM! sequel as well. At the moment, that's about all we know, but the first film certainly set up a few tantalizing threads which will likely be followed up upon in the sequel. If you've seen the film, you'll know what I mean. Director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran are also expected to return as well. In his review of the film, our own Editor-in-Chief Paul Shirey said that SHAZAM! is so much more than "BIG with superpowers," saying that director David F. Sandberg has "crafted a superhero film that dips its toe in many other genres, notably the 80s-style adventure films of that era, from THE GOONIES to BACK TO THE FUTURE to GHOSTBUSTERS and more. It's got a tinge of horror, superhero action, loads of humor and, most importantly, a lot of heart, which is something that can't be undersold in a story like this. While many may be concerned that this is just a comedy, you can rest easy that it's got a lot more going on. That said, it's laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish and that's in no way a bad thing given the material we're dealing with." What are you hoping to see in the SHAZAM! sequel?
The official synopsis for SHAZAM!:
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Strong).
SHAZAM! is now playing in theaters, so be sure to check out the full reviews from our own Paul Shirey and Chris Bumbray, as well as let us know what YOU thought of the film.