DC Studios Co-Chair James Gunn Reveals How Involved He Was With SHAZAM 2's End Credits Scene

DC Studios Co-Chair James Gunn Reveals How Involved He Was With SHAZAM 2's End Credits Scene

James Gunn weighs in on Shazam! Fury of the Gods' end credits scene where A.R.G.U.S. agents Emilia Harcourt and John Economos showed up to recruit Billy for the JSA.

By MarkJulian - Dec 10, 2023 10:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman: Legacy

James Gunn and Peter Safran assumed joint control of DC Studios on November 1, 2022. Shazam! Fury of the Gods hit theaters on March 17, 2023. Do you think there was enough time for Gunn to make any significant changes to the film before its release?

With Fury of the Gods' end credits scene inexplicably having Emilia Harcourt and John Economos show up as A.R.G.U.S. representatives to recruit Billy Batson for the Justice Society of America, some fans thought Gunn was already flexing his muscle.

That's because Emilia Harcourt is played by Gunn's wife, Jennifer Holland. A few online trolls have been asserting that Gunn shoehorned in Harcourt's appearance in Fury of the Gods and Black Adam as one of his first acts as DC Studios co-chair. 

Of course, anyone that's even remotely familiar with how the filmmaking processs works knows that Harcourt's appearance in these films was likely something that was in the works, long before Gunn came aboard.

Responding to such claims on social media, Gunn stated, "It wasn't my call and I didn't write it – although it came out when I had just started at DC, its inclusion far predates me as (as does Harcourt as the warden of an underwater prison!). And, although I thought it was fun, I have no idea why those characters would be recruiting for the JS."

Gunn has previously stated repeatedly, that DC Studios film continuity doesn't start until Creature Commandos.

And that although some characters from the DCEU are moving forward into the DCU, it's simply because Gunn likes the actors for the role, not necessarily because he wants to keep the continuity of what happened to those characters in the DCEU.

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS
From New Line Cinema comes “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego,

Shazam. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars returning cast members Zachary Levi (“Thor: Ragnarok”) as Shazam; Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (“It Chapter Two”) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (“Promising Young Woman”) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (“Day Shift”) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) as Super Hero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary; Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (“A Dog’s Journey”) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (“Second Chances”) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (“White Lines”) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (“A Quiet Place Part II”) as Wizard.

Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), with Lucy Liu (“Kung Fu Panda” franchise) and Helen Mirren (“F9: The Fast Saga”).

The film is directed by David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) and produced by Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Suicide Squad”). It is written by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), based on characters from DC; Shazam! was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Executive producers are Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi and Geoff Johns. 

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FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/10/2023, 10:51 AM
Crossovers for crossovers sake is all it was, like the entire DCEU
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/10/2023, 10:59 AM
@FireandBlood -

Gunn is the CEO💁


Why didn't he just make them cut that after credit scene? He was announced as CEO in October 2022 and Shazam 2 came out March 2023👮...


There was plenty of time to cut it. Seems like the dude doesn't take responsibility. He wrote the awful after credit scenes for flash.



I think his wife didn't let him cut the scene🤠


She wears the pants
xfactor
xfactor - 12/10/2023, 11:32 AM
@AmazingFILMporg - ummm because it wasn't his project?
kazuma
kazuma - 12/10/2023, 11:33 AM
@AmazingFILMporg - Why would he cut the scene out? It was a nothing movie that was tracking to fail. He was also brought in to handle the DCU, while Peter Safran is on the business end of things. Peter Safran (co-ceo), was the producer on Shazam 2.

So you blame Gun (co-ceo), but not Peter, who is co-ceo and producer on the fim?
DTor91
DTor91 - 12/10/2023, 12:29 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - This is a lot of assumption for not knowing how the job and the extent of the situation works.
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 1:54 PM
@xfactor - As CEO it became his project BEFORE the film was released.

@kazuma - There is no question Gunn had influence over the post credit scene. As the creative part of the co-CEO team of Safran and Gunn he is the one who introduced the idea of The Authority appearing in DC films despite the fact yet are not traditional FC characters.

@DTor91 - Since the scene provides a mention of The Authority it is way too much of a coincidence for it not to have had Gunn involved. Not to mention the way the scene plays out is typical Gunn with snarky back and forth banter about seemingly insignificant topics. There was PLENTY of time to add the scene in prior to release.

@AmazingFILMporg - Gunn has been caught again in another fake out attempt.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2023, 2:23 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - ...why would he bother? None of that is gonna end up in his dcu anyway.
kazuma
kazuma - 12/10/2023, 3:34 PM
@Forthas - Creative of the DCU. Not the DCEU.
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 10:02 PM
@kazuma - Right....I am saying that when he became head of the DC film studio. He inherited the remnants of the DCEU. He clearly added something to the DCEU films despite his claiming that he did not.
kazuma
kazuma - 12/10/2023, 10:22 PM
@Forthas - So Gunn and Peter F Sandburg (the director), confirming Gun didn't change anything, and you're still ignoring it?
Blame the Rock for not allowing Black Adam characters in the movie, instead of others not involved.
https://www.cbr.com/shazam-2-director-post-credits-confusing/
https://thedirect.com/article/dwayne-johnson-shazam-2-black-adam-cameos


Forthas
Forthas - 12/11/2023, 12:37 AM
@kazuma - So it is a TOTAL coincidence that in Shazam he referred to The Authority? This is AFTER James Gunn announced that he would essentially highlight The Authority in the new DCU. That is a coincidence that it ended up in the Shazam end credit? Gunn had no say in that? Even in the context of that end credit scene it came out of left field. ONLY Gunn has been advertising The Authority as being in the DCU. So in order for your theory to be true then this obscure team that is not traditionally associated with DC just magically was referred to by Shazam and while James Gunn decided they would coincidentally be central to the DCU.

YES! Sandberg and Gunn are lying!
kazuma
kazuma - 12/11/2023, 6:51 AM
@Forthas - it has nothing to do with the authority. I can tell you're a blind idiot withna hate boner, that refuses to accept that Gunn isn't the big bad wolf. So gg, and I hope you get help.
Forthas
Forthas - 12/11/2023, 8:13 AM
@kazuma - You First!
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 12/10/2023, 10:53 AM
Is Dwayne Johnson still the hierarchy?
MaxPaint
MaxPaint - 12/10/2023, 10:59 AM
Oh it was just a "coincidence".
Slotherin
Slotherin - 12/10/2023, 11:00 AM
I actually didn't mind this one. It's weird but I felt like as the DCEU came to a dying light it actually displayed more connective tissue that was nice to see.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 12/10/2023, 11:08 AM
So Peacemaker.

S2 is DCU. Confirmed.

S1 has Ezra Miller as The Flash and Jason Momoa as Aquaman.

Is Ezra Miller officially the Barry Allen of the DCU? Inquiring minds need to know.
FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 12/10/2023, 11:18 AM
@ObserverIO - Anything before Superman: Legacy has been Holiday Special-ed; it’s non canon. Including Peacemaker S1.
SethBullock
SethBullock - 12/10/2023, 11:54 AM
@ObserverIO - This is why they should just full reboot, but they won't because that would mean getting rid of certain characters played by certain actors that are Gunn's friends and collaborators.
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 11:08 AM
Let me see if I got this straight....James Gunns wife just happens to appear in a Peter Safran produced film. Gunn and Saffran just happen to become the heads of DC four months before the film is released and in said post credit scene Shazam suggests the JLS should be called "THE AUTHORITY" society....the very team that no one has ever heard of or considered until James Gunn arrived....

Repian
Repian - 12/10/2023, 11:10 AM
@Forthas - This is a conspiracy, friend... A conspiracy. xD
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 11:15 AM
@Repian - ...or James Gunn is obviously full of sh*t!
Repian
Repian - 12/10/2023, 11:53 AM
@Forthas - Dude, you spend too much time in your parents' basement. Go outside, sunbathe, meet a nice girl and ask her out to dinner.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 12/10/2023, 11:58 AM
@Forthas -


Gunn lies alot. Idk what happened to him but he has been exposed so many times. Even his past comments about superman have surfaced making look like a fraud💁
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 1:20 PM
@Repian - I actually spend most of my time in my own home...my parents don't have a basement in there home....I already met a nice girl and married her and we go out to dinner all the time.

I hope the money that Gunn pays you to troll people critical of him is a lot. You have your work cut out for you!
Forthas
Forthas - 12/10/2023, 1:25 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - I don't think he was ever any different. I think that because of the success of Guardians (which is really a result of the Marvel brand) he has skated by without much scrutiny. But now given his expanded role at DC as an executive and director and writer for DC properties the spotlight is now on him. I can't keep up with his dishonesty.
newmutantsRETURNS
newmutantsRETURNS - 12/10/2023, 11:09 AM
JG should have just hard reboot all across the board with new talent...no holdovers of his faves and family members, just a true clean slate.
Repian
Repian - 12/10/2023, 11:14 AM
If the DCU is a success, I will enjoy reading future comments from today's madmen.
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 12/10/2023, 11:34 AM
@Repian - Longing for this day.
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 12/10/2023, 12:24 PM
@Repian - it won't be
MadThanos
MadThanos - 12/10/2023, 11:18 AM
Hahahahaha this is a funny story. It seems like they (The Rock and Co.) tried to put Gunn on a difficult position putting his wife on that scene.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2023, 2:25 PM
@MadThanos - ...the rock had nothing to do with Shazam 2. In fact the people behind Shazam 2 have specifically called out the rock for having nothing to do with Shazam 2.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 12/10/2023, 3:43 PM
@Origame - [frick] you.

It's a Black Adam post credits scene. The Rock tried to hijack the creative control.
Origame
Origame - 12/10/2023, 4:40 PM
@MadThanos - ...you're really bringing in black Adam for this? He wasn't even in charge of dc until after that movie was released. In fact, that movie specifically brought Henry cavill in and had him announce his return the day after the premiere.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 12/10/2023, 11:21 AM
The Hierarchy was just doing whatever lol
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 12/10/2023, 11:49 AM
NEPOTISM
AT
ITS
FINEST

JK, I don't give a flying frog's fat ass who Gunn casts in what as long as the content is good.

Michael Rooker for Supergirl.
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 12/10/2023, 12:23 PM
Of course he was involved directly or indirectly
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