Get ready, DC fans. We’re about to go back to the world of Shazam!. Warner Bros. and DC Films are set to release the sequel to the hit Zachary Levi-led sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods in theaters this winter. The first Shazam! film told the story of young Billy Batson (Asher Angel), who received the ability to transform into an adult superhero, all by saying the titular “Shazam!” While the first film was primarily devoted to setting up Billy’s new life as Shazam and introducing enemies, the sequel will have a chance to explore that lore even further, with Billy facing off against new and greater threats as he learns and grows as a superhero.

With the film hitting theaters on December 16, 2022, let’s take a look at everything we know about Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Where will the plot take Billy and his friends? Who is returning to the cast from the first film, and will there be any new faces joining? When and where can we see the movie when it is released? And, of course, what else should audiences know about the sequel to one of the DCEU’s most popular and well-received films?

Plot: Everything We Know

Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Warner Bros. Pictures

Not much is known about the plot at this point, but that hasn’t stopped fans online from speculating about what we might see. At the end of the first film, the imprisoned Dr. Thaddeus Sivana was approached by the villainous worm Mister Mind, who proposed an alliance between the two. This gives us one potential clue as to the plot of the sequel, with Sivana and Mind possibly teaming up against Billy/Shazam.

Other theories say that the title, Fury of the Gods, gives us a clue. Fans may know that Shazam’s name is an acronym for six powerful elders -- Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. These gods and rulers could have something to do with the plot, as each one contributes some part to Shazam’s powers. Yet another possibility involves both theories, with Mister Mind somehow becoming involved with the gods, possibly through an alliance or by becoming one himself.

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In any case, theories will continue to abound until fans get confirmation of what will be seen in the movie. For now, all we can do is wait and see if any of the theories hold up or if the filmmakers will be taking the story in an entirely different and unexpected direction.

Cast: What We Know

Shazam!
Warner Bros. Pictures

As mentioned above, Zachary Levi is back in the starring role as Billy Batson’s superhero alter ego. Asher Angel is also returning from the first film as the 14-year-old Batson. Jack Dylan Grazer is back as Freddy Freeman, Billy’s friend and foster brother, with Adam Brody as Freeman’s adult superhero form.

Djimon Hounsou will return as ancient wizard Shazam, who originally gave Billy his powers in the first film. Billy’s foster family is set to come back, including Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley and Meagan Good as her adult form, Ian Chen as Eugene and Ross Butler as his adult form, Jovan Armand as Pedro and D.J. Cotrona as his adult form, and Grace Fulton as both Mary and her adult form. Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews are also back as Billy’s foster parents, Rosa and Victor Vasquez.

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In addition to those returning, there will be some newcomers joining the cast. Helen Mirren will be portraying the villain Hespera, one of the daughters of Atlas. Lucy Liu joins as Kalypso, another daughter of Atlas and sister of Mirren’s Hespera. Mirren and Liu’s exact storylines within the film have yet to be revealed. West Side Story breakout star Rachel Zegler has also joined the cast, yet details of her role are still unknown at this point.

Everything We Know

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Warner Bros. Animation

Since it was first announced in 2019, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has seen many release dates. It was first set for release on April 1, 2022, before shifting to November 4, 2022, and later June 2, 2023, due to COVID-related delays in production. The production was able to speed back up faster than other delayed DC films, so the release was moved up to its current date of December 16, 2022.

The twelfth film in the DC Extended Universe, the release of Shazam! Fury of the Gods will arrive two months after the Dwayne Johnson starring spin-off Black Adam. Johnson was initially set to appear in a supporting role in the first Shazam! film, but the filmmakers decided to move the titular Black Adam to his own movie, given the star power of Johnson. This will also allow for the character Black Adam’s backstory to be explored in-depth, showing how he came to be an adversary of Shazam. It is not yet known if Black Adam will have any connection to Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but given DC’s tendency for crossovers, it would seem like a missed opportunity if not.