Shazam! Fury of the Gods Director Says There’s a ‘Possibility’ for More Shazam Films Despite DCU Overhaul

When James Gunn and Peter Safran announced “Chapter One” of the new DC Universe (DCU), Shazam was not part of the initial roadmap, leaving fans to feel like the upcoming sequel would be a sad denouement for the series. But director David F. Sandberg has a message of hope for those mourning Zachary Levi’s comic superhero.

Responding to a fan who opened worried about the uncertainty around the series “killing the vibe of the film,” Sandberg said that the “possibility for more Shazam is there,” but only if fans go and see the movie.

“He definitely won’t if people don’t go see the movie,” Sandberg said in response to whether Shazam would have a role in the future DCU. “What I’ve been told is that there’s nothing in the Shazam films that contradict the future plans for DC. So the possibility for more Shazam is there and if that’s what you want your best bet is to go see the film.”

As always, it’s down box office returns, which unfortunately for Shazam are expected to be low by superhero movie standards — around $35 million to $40 million according to initial projections. By comparison, the original Shazam — which was considered to be a mid-range success — debuted at $53.5 million amid positive reviews.

With release buzz relatively muted, Shazam’s future may depend on its ability to beat expectations like its predecessor did.

In the meantime, the DCU is charging ahead, with the initial wave of films including Superman, Batman, and Swamp Thing. Elsewhere, Matt Reeves’ The Batman is set to become a trilogy and Joker is getting its own sequel starring Lady Gaga. Black Adam, for its part, appears to be done, at least for now.

We’ll know whether Shazam is on track to avoid a similar fate when it releases on March 17.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.