Will ‘Shazam’ Movie Be Part Of The ‘Batman V Superman’ Universe?


Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson confirmed Wednesday that he will play Black Adam in a Shazam movie. It was assumed that the film would be part of a broader DC Comics Cinematic Universe being established with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice that is expanding to include Wonder Woman and Aquaman. A report from Entertainment Weekly indicates that may not be the case, however.

The first hint that Shazam will be separate from the DC Cinematic Universe is that it is being produced by New Line Studios, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Pictures. The second clue comes from New Line President Toby Emmerich.

“It feels to me like Shazam will have a tone unto itself,” Emmerich told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s a DC comic, but it’s not a Justice League character, and it’s not a Marvel comic. The tone and the feeling of the movie will be different from the other range of comic book movies.”

He added that they are going for a movie that “will have a sense of fun and a sense of humor. But the stakes have to be real.”

That’s definitely a different direction from Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, which was super serious throughout with only light touches of humor. That difference in tone is something that even Marvel’s Avengers director Joss Whedon noted in comments during a Comic-Con appearance, as The Inquisitr reported.

A more fun touch will be need with Shazam, though. After all, this is a super hero that is actually a young boy that transforms into a super-powered adult thanks to shouting a magic catchphrase. If the film succeeds, it will also allow some of the crazier villains and allies from the character’s multiple comic book series including Mary Marvel and the Marvel Family.

Marvel Family Comic
Yes, there was actually a Marvel Family comic book.

This will potentially be a disappointment though to those hoping to see Shazam team up with the rest of the Justice League or a showdown against Superman or Batman.

Dwayne Johnson is definitely having fun with the announcement of him as Shazam‘s arch-nemesis, Black Adam, however.

Do you think Shazam will work as a DC movie set in its own universe or would you rather see the character as part of the Justice League? Let us know in the comments below.

[Image via DC Comics]

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