Shazam! Fury of the Gods is shaping up to be the latest DCEU movie to underperform both critically and commercially, but what went wrong with the sequel to the surprise 2019 hit? It's hard to say, in all honesty, but filmmaker David F. Sandberg definitely put a lot of love into the movie.
As a fan of the character and this corner of the DC Universe, he made sure to include a tonne of great references and cameos we know you will all appreciate.
In this feature, we're taking a look at the Shazam! follow-up's 10 best Easter Eggs, from surprise character appearances to deep-cut nods to the comic books, and even some surprises likely to have passed the most hardcore fans by. No matter whether you loved or hated this movie (or simply didn't care), you'll have fun taking a closer look at these.
So, to read through our Shazam! Fury of the Gods breakdown, simply click on the "Next" button below.
10. A Tribute To...Starro?!
In The Suicide Squad, Task Force X was forced to battle Starro, the first villain the Justice League ever faced. By the time all was said and done, the alien was killed, but how much does the world know about his invasion plans?
It's hard to say, but in the paediatrician's office near the start of the film, we see an alphabet chart with various animals on it. While "S" stands for "Starfish," the design of that creature is a blatant nod to the telepathic conqueror.
9. Tawny's DCEU Debut
Tawky Tawny is a human-like tiger who quickly became one of Shazam's closest allies, but is he too ridiculous for live-action? We can see why some might think so, but it feels like a missed opportunity to have not included him here.
There were a few fun Easter Eggs in Shazam!, but when Darla rescues a basket of kittens in her superhero form, she keeps one and names it Tawny. Unfortunately, she eventually decides to give him back, so he won't be transforming into a tiger!
8. The Burning Violin
Shazam! Fury of the Gods' burning violin might serve as a funny gag on the surface, but this returning prop from the first movie has important ties to the source material. In fact, its history goes all the way back to 1946!
In the pages of Captain Marvel Adventures #64, a story titled "Flames of the Magic Fiddle" saw a villain called Oggar imbue the instrument with magical flames...and that's about it! Billy Batson would, however, end up smashing it into pieces.
7. Annabelle Comes Home
Before joining the DCEU, Sandberg was best known for his horror work. The filmmaker helmed The Conjuring spin-off Annabelle: Creation, and brings the creepy killer doll back for a surprise cameo appearance in the Shazam! sequel.
Appearing in the doctor's office we mentioned a little earlier, Annabelle is sat watching on as Billy vents to the paediatrician. Remember, she has the ability to show up in the most unexpected of places and seems to be doing just that here.
6. Captain Marvel
No, not that Captain Marvel. Long before Carol Danvers started using that name, it was Shazam's moniker, though Marvel Comics found a loophole in the 1970s to create their own Captain Marvel (who was Kree hero Mar-Vell).
As a result, Billy Batson is typically referred to as Shazam these days. However, the actor who played Billy in the 1970s TV series (Michael Gray) appears during the final battle and suggests Shazam call himself "Captain Marvel" instead!
5. Wonder Woman
For reasons we still can't fathom, Warner Bros. decided to spoil Wonder Woman's Shazam! Fury of the Gods cameo in advance. It was probably in the hopes of boosting box office numbers but, as we now know, that didn't work.
Still, this cameo is a clever Easter Egg. Diana Prince initially appears via a "headless" cameo, harkening back to Superman's disappointing Shazam! appearance. The pay off here, though, is that we actually get to see Gal Gadot in the end.
4. Peacemaker Star Plays A Different Character
The sequel kicks off with the Daughters of Atlas attacking a museum, and actor Rizwan Manji plays the tour guide they waste no time in killing. However, if he looks familiar to you, it's because he previously appeared in Peacemaker.
Bizarrely, Sandberg has revealed that casting Manji was producer Peter Safran's idea, with his argument being that he only played a small part in the HBO Max series...despite the fact he's shown dancing in those memorable opening credits.
3. Mary Marvel Recasting
In Shazam!, Michelle Borth played the adult Mary Marvel, with Grace Caroline Currey starring as her teenage counterpart. In the sequel, however, the latter pulls double duty, without any sort of explanation about this "recasting" in the movie.
Cleverly, a flashback to the events of the first movie was reshot by Sandberg, with Currey replacing Borth as the superhero. That makes the change pretty seamless, though we're still unsure how no one recognises Mary when she transforms...
2. David F. Sandberg's Cameo
No matter what issues Shazam! Fury of the Gods has, we're going to give director David F. Sandberg credit for directing the hell out of this one. The filmmaker, however, also gets to step in front of the camera for a fun cameo appearance.
When Kalypso's monsters start attacking people in the final battle, one of them picks up an unwitting passerby (Sandberg) who the director has since said scrams "Släpp mig!" (which is Swedish for "Let me go!") when he's eventually dropped.
1. The Avengers Society
In the movie's mid-credits scene, Shazam is offered the opportunity to join the Justice Society by Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) and John Economos (Steve Agee). However, the hero is massively disappointed it's not the Justice League.
As the frustrated A.R.G.U.S. agents walk away, he throws a number of suggestions at them about what their team should be called so it's less misleading, including "The Avengers Society," a name Shazam points out he's a big fan of.