Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the 12th entry in what was formerly known as the DCEU. Based on the classic comic character Shazam, the film sees the hero going face-to-face with the Daughters of Atlas. One of the most exciting developments for the sequel is the expanded roles of Billy's foster siblings who were given superpowers in the climax of Shazam! The first film was very much about Billy Batson and his time with the superpowers, but now with the sequel, his foster family get an expanded role and is allowed to be part of the superheroics.
Billy Batson and his foster siblings make up the superhero team typically known as the Shazam Family. They have been major parts of various comic books, and three of the members are recent additions to the comics. Here is a breakdown of the Shazam Family in the comics and the films and a little information on each member of the team and who plays them.
The Shazam Family
The Shazam Family, originally known as the Marvel Family before Marvel Comics took the name's copyright, is a concept that dates back to 1942. In the original comics, the most notable members were Mary Marvel (who was Billy Batson's long-lost sister) and his friend Freddy Freeman, who became known as Captain Marvel Jr. In 2011, during DC's New 52 relaunch, the Shazam Family concept was retooled with Mary and Freddy being Billy's foster siblings along with three new additions: Pedron Peña, Darla Dudley, and Eugine Choi.
The 2019 film stuck with the New 52 versions of the characters. Unlike Billy Batson who gets his powers from the wizard, the other members of the family technically get their powers from Billy which means they are sharing in the ability. While each member has all the same powers, each one also is stronger in one specific area corresponding with one of the six figures that give Billy Batson his powers. Those are Solomon (wisdom), Hercules (strength), Atlas (stamina), Zeus (power), Achilles (courage), and Mercury (speed).
Billy Batson
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The main hero of the team, Billy Batson, was a young kid in the foster system who was looking for his birth mother. He is given the powers by a wizard named Shazam. Whenever Billy Batson says "Shazam," he becomes a full-grown superpowered adult and possesses strength, flight, super speed, invulnerability, and lightning powers. Using the staff of the Wizard, Billy is able to give power to his foster siblings.
Billy Batson is played by Asher Angel while the superhero adult form of Shazam is played by Zachary Levi. The character wears his comic book character's signature red outfit with a white cape and lightning bolt on his chest. Shazam, originally named Captain Marvel, was at one point the most popular superhero in the world and even outsold Superman comics. The character has the potential to be a major part of the DCU; if the sequel does well, there's little doubt he can fit him into James Gunn and Peter Safran's new plans for the franchise.
Freddy Freeman
Freddy Freeman is Billy's physically disabled foster brother and also the first person to learn that Billy has superpowers. Freddy is an expert on all things superheroes and helps Billy learn more about his powers. Freddy Freeman's adult form, formerly known as Captain Marvel Jr. in the comics, wears a blue super suit and has a great deal of flight power, which is fitting because that was the superpower he told Billy he wished he could have.
One of the most courageous members of the group (representing Achilles), his kid form is played by Jack Dylan Grazer, while his adult form is played by Adam Brody. A notable thing about Freddy Freeman is, while originally under the name Captain Marvel Jr., was the favorite superhero of rock icon Elvis Presley.
Elvis styled his signature haircut after the comic book character and some of his stage show outfits, specifically the ones with the capes, were inspired by the hero. Elvis' collection of Captain Marvel comics resides at his estate in Graceland, and the musician's fondness for the hero was referenced in the 2022 film Elvis.
Mary Bromfield
Mary Bromfield is the oldest of Billy's foster siblings and very much the most mature of the team. When audiences first meet her, she is trying to get into college but also has fears of leaving and missing the newfound family she has made. In her superpowered form, she wears a red suit like Billy Batson but one with a skirt. In the first Shazam! the teen version of Mary is played by Grace Caroline Currey, while the adult version is played by Michelle Borth. For the sequel, Grace Caroline Currey will play both versions of Mary. Shazam! star Zachary Levi did confirm that Mary is the most intelligent of the team, representing the wisdom of Solomon.
In the comics, Mary was originally known as Mary Marvel and was Billy Batson long-lost twin sister. This blood connection between the two was cut in the New 52 relaunch to strengthen the idea that the Shazam family in both their superpowered and civilian forms is one not of blood connection but of love for one another. Yet the film version does appear to be the sibling Billy is closest to besides Freddy.
Pedro Peña
Pedro Peña is Billy Batson's older foster brother. He is quiet and shy, has a hard time opening up, and does not say much at first. He appears to be trying to bulk up and get physically fit, as Darla hints "he is trying to get swole." In his superpowered form, Pedro wears a green suit and appears to be a muscle-bound idea of what he wants to be and possesses a greater amount of super strength, giving him the strength of Hercules.
While hinted at in the first film, the writers for the sequel have confirmed that Pedro is gay, which is made official within the second film, making him one of the most high-profile gay superheroes in a feature film.
Jovan Armand plays the kid version of Pedro while D.J. Cotrona plays the adult version. In a fun bit of DC history, Cotrona was set to play Superman in a canceled Justice League movie by Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller and would have been acting alongside fellow Shazam family member Adam Brody who was cast as The Flash.
Darla Dudley
Darla Dudley is Billy Batson's younger foster sibling and the younger member of the Shazam Family. Darla is good-natured, sweet, and affectionate with her family and immediately tries to make Billy Batson feel welcomed and loved when he arrives. Darla is the second member of the family to learn about Billy's secret and keeps it until the others figure it out.
In her superhero form, Darla wears a purple outfit and posses enchanted superseded to match her youthful energy. Darla represents the speed of Mercury. The child version of Darla is played by Faithe Herman and the adult is played by Meagan Good.
Eugene Choi
Eugene Choi is Billy Batson's younger foster brother. Eugene is a tech expert and can use his skills to help Billy track down his birth mother. Eugene also is an obsessive gamer and his interest in technology are reflected in his expanded ability to control electricity, drawing from the power of Zeus. The sequel establishes him as being one of the more inquisitive members of the team, documenting many parts of the lair. Child Eugene is played by Ian Chen while the adult version in the grayish superhero suit is played by Ross Butler.