SHAZAM And BLACK ADAM Producer Reaffirms That The Films Are Set In The Same Universe
With the DCEU rumored to be dissolved as Warner Bros. looks to develop their most popular IPs (Wonder Woman, Batman, and Aquaman) into standalone franchises, where does that leave Shazam and Black Adam?
While the exact future of the DC Cinematic Film Universe is still a bit murky, comments made last January by Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich implied that the studio would stop chasing Marvel and return to the days of separate, standalone trilogies for individual heroes.
Speaking while Aquaman was riding a greater than expected wave of box office success, Emmerich stated, "We all feel like we’ve turned a corner now. We’re playing by the DC playbook, which is very different than the Marvel playbook. We are far less focused on a shared universe. We take it one movie at a time. Each movie is its own equation and own creative entity."
Where that leaves plans for long-gestating films like The Flash, Cyborg and Green Lantern Corps. is anyone's guess. However, WB will soon see Shazam! hit theaters and they're obviously hoping for another Wonder Woman/Aquaman-esque box office performance instead of a Justice League-like flop.
With a renewed focus on standalone films, does that mean Shazam! and Black Adam will no longer be as connected as many fans and critics initially assumed?
Producer Hiram Garcia, a long-time partner of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson whose credits include both Shazam and Black Adam, told Collider, "Seven Bucks helped develop Shazam and while the film exists in the same universe as our upcoming Black Adam film, both projects have their own unique tone and vibe. We’re so excited with how the movie turned out and Zachary Levi is perfect as Shazam. Not only is he an extremely talented big guy, that got even bigger for the role, but his good-natured spirit comes through wonderfully when having to portray a 14-year-old in the body of a superhero. This movie is a lot of fun!"