The Shazam 2 HBO Max release date is almost here. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods having finally ended its theatrical run and is approaching its release on HBO Max. When can fans watch and stream Shazam 2 on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer? Here’s what you need to know.
When Is the Shazam 2 Release Date for HBO Max?
The Shazam 2 HBO Max release date is May 23, 2023.
Technically, the David F. Sandberg-directed movie will be part of the Max available content as the rebranded version of HBO Max will debut on the same day. The film hit theaters on March 17, 2022, but didn’t perform as well as expected, ending up the lowest-grossing DC Universe live-action entree. Considering the poor box-office results, there is a lot of uncertainty about Shazam’s future in the James Gunn-led version of the DC Universe. Still, leading actor Zachary Levi seems open to reprising the character on future occasions, provided there will be any.
When it launches on HBO Max, Shazam! Fury of the Gods will “continue the story of teenage Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.” In this sequel, Shazam isn’t alone, as he is joined by his fellow super-powered friends who are “still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos.” This time around, there’s an even bigger enemy, with “the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arriving on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago.”
Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation) directed the film from a screenplay penned by Henry Gayden, with Peter Safran serving as producer.
In addition to Levi returning as the titular hero, Shazam! Fury of the Gods saw the return of Asher Angel as Billy Batson. The cast included Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody as Freddy, Faithe Herman and Meagan Good as Darla, Ian Chen and Ross Bulter as Eugene, Grace Fulton as Mary, Jovan Arman and D.J. Cotrona as Pedro, Marta Milans, Cooper Andrews, and Djimon Hounsou.
March 2023 will see the arrival of some of 2023’s biggest and most anticipated releases, such as the latest installment in the Rocky film series, a new version of a Stephen King story, the rise of a new Ghostface killer, the return of Billy Batson, John Wick’s latest mission, and an action movie based on a famous game. February also saw the release of some highly-anticipated releases, such as M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, the comedy-drama Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the slasher movie Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and the dark comedy thriller Cocaine Bear.
Unfortunately, none of February’s releases are available to stream yet, but the wait won’t be a problem as March is packed with exciting releases from a variety of genres. March will welcome the third installment in the Creed movie series, a new version of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn, the sixth installment in the Scream franchise, a new adventure from the DCEU starring Billy Batson and company, a new chapter in John Wick’s movie saga, and the long-awaited movie adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, among others. Here’s every movie coming to theaters in March 2023.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre – March 3
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is a spy action comedy directed by Guy Ritchie. It follows Orson Fortune (Jason Statham), an elite spy who must track down and stop the sale of deadly weapons technology possessed by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Fortune reluctantly teams up with some of the world’s best operatives and they recruit Hollywood star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their mission to save the world. Also starring in Operation Fortune are Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Eddie Marsan, and Bugzy Malone. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre was released internationally on January 4, 2023, and after its release in the US on March 3, it will be released digitally on Amazon Prime Video in the UK on April 7.
Creed III – March 3
Creed III is a sports drama directed by Michael B. Jordan in his feature directorial debut, and it’s the ninth installment in the Rocky film series. After the events of Creed II, Adonis “Donnie” Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is thriving in his boxing career and in his personal life, but when Damian “Dame” Anderson (Jonathan Majors), a childhood friend of his and former boxing prodigy returns after serving a long sentence in prison, Adonis faces his friend on the ring, putting his future on the line while Damian has nothing to lose. Also starring in Creed III are Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.
Children of the Corn – March 3
Children of the Corn is a slasher movie directed by Kurt Wimmer and based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name, serving as a reimagining of the film series that began in 1984. Children of the Corn follows Eden Edwards (Kate Moyer), a psychopathic 12-year-old in a small town in Nebraska who recruits all the children to go on a bloody rampage, killing corrupt adults and anyone who stands in their way, and the town’s only hope is a high schooler who doesn’t go along with Eden’s plans. Children of the Corn will be released in an 18-day theatrical window beginning on March 3.
Scream VI – March 10
Ghostface is back in Scream VI, and they are taking the murders outside Woodsboro one more time. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream VI follows the survivors of the latest Woodsboro massacre – Sam (Melissa Barrera), Tara (Jenna Ortega), Chad (Mason Gooding), and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Bronw) – as they move to New York City to start a new chapter of their lives. However, they will be haunted by a new Ghostface killer, and the group will count on the help of two Scream legacy characters: Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere). Also starring in Scream 6 are Jack Champion, Dermot Mulroney, Tony Revolori, and Samantha Weaving.
Unwelcome – March 8
Unwelcome is a folk horror movie directed by John Wright. Married couple Maya (Hannah John-Kamen) and Jamie (Douglas Booth) escape from the urban nightmare that London can be at times to the tranquility of rural Ireland. Once there, they discover that murderous goblins lurk in the ancient wood at the foot of their new garden, and Maya, who is pregnant, is soon targeted by these creatures. Also starring in Unwelcome are Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Colm Meaney, Chris Walley, and Paul Warren.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods – March 17
Billy Batson/Shazam is back in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, directed by David F. Sandberg. In this new adventure, Billy Batson (Zachary Levi and Asher Angel) and his foster siblings Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer and Adam Brody), Eugene (Ross Butler and Ian Chen), and Darla (Meagan Good and Faithe Herman) are forced to get back into action to fight the Daughters of Atlas and stop them from using a weapon that could destroy the world. Joining the fun in Shazam! Fury of the Gods are Rachel Zegler as Anthea, Lucy Liu as Kalypso, and Helen Mirren as Hespera.
Moving On – March 17
Moving On is a comedy movie directed by Paul Weitz. Moving On follows Claire (Jane Fonda) and Evelyn (Lily Tomlin), two long-time friends who reconnect at a funeral, where they decide to take revenge on the widower (Malcolm McDowell), who wronged them many years ago. Also starring in Moving On are Richard Roundtree and Catherine Dent. Moving On premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and it’s now ready to be released in cinemas.
John Wick: Chapter 4 – March 24
The fourth installment in the John Wick movie saga will arrive on March 24. Directed by Chad Stahelski, John Wick: Chapter 4 will see professional hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovering a path to defeating the High Table, but before he can be free, he must face a new enemy with powerful alliances around the world and old friends that have turned into foes. Also starring in John Wick: Chapter 4 are Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Adkins, Clancy Brown, and Hiroyuki Sanada.
A Good Person – March 24
A Good Person is a drama movie written, directed, and produced by Zach Braff. It’s the story of Allison (Florence Pugh), a young woman with a fiancé, a wonderful career, and a supportive circle of family and friends. After being involved in a fatal accident, Allison comes out of it with opioid addiction and unresolved grief, and in the following years, she forms an unlikely friendship with her would-be-father-in-law, who gives her a chance to put her life back together and move forward. Also starring in A Good Person are Morgan Freeman, Molly Shannon, and Zoe Lister-Jones.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – March 31
The famous tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons has made the jump to the big screen in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. It follows Edgin the Bard (Chris Pine), a charming thief who along with a band of unlikely adventurers goes on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but it all takes a turn when they clash with the wrong people. Also starring in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Paget, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant, Daisy Head, Chloe Coleman, and Jason Wong.
Before hitting theaters next week, the Shazam! Fury of the Gods early reactions offer insight into what's to be expected. The DCEU is about to have its biggest year as Warner Bros. Discovery has not one, but four films set to release in 2023. The first is Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which was initially slated for December 2022. After the successful first installment in 2019, the Shazam Family are finally returning to the big-screen for their latest adventure. Shazam! Fury of the Gods is already being positioned to outdo the first film both in scale and execution.
— Daniel Baptista - The Movie Podcast (@dbapz) March 7, 2023
#ShazamFuryOfTheGods // #ShazamMovie is a super-powered sequel that packs a punch. A super solid, super fun & super smart blend of hilarity, heart & heroics. Ramps up the action & irreverence to a delightful degree. Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu & Rachel Zegler are MVPs. ❤️ the dragon! pic.twitter.com/C4eP4ukAk1
#ShazamFuryOfTheGods is what I wanted the movie to be. The film does a good job of balancing this large cast and it’s just a fun superhero movie with a lot of heart. I’d love to see these characters and actors carry on in the #DCU and I think it can fit it. Go see it for yourself pic.twitter.com/MkhTz3GqjO
What Shazam 2's Early Reactions Mean For Its DC Universe Future
Over the last few months, especially after the initial slate of DC Studios projects, Shazam's future in the DC Universe has been a bit of a mystery. Even though The Flash will serve as a reset for the DC Universe, not everything is necessarily getting excluded. Gunn has made it clear that various actors could still come back after the reset. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods, the fate of its place in the DC Universe may take a positive turn based on its reception.
Early reactions for Shazam! Fury of the Gods has been positive overall, though that's ahead of general reviews. If it's a commercial success, that will likely give DC Studios more reason to consider continuing the Shazam franchise as part of the DC Universe. At the very least, they may greenlight Shazam 3 to allow Levi and the cast a chance to finish the trilogy. But that doesn't necessarily rule out the idea of them continuing to appear in the DC Universe after a potential sequel.
Time will tell where DC Studios goes with the Shazam characters, but it all depends on the movie's reception. If it were to struggle financially and critically with mainstream audiences, that would likely prevent Shazam 3 from happening. For now, those looking to see Shazam! Fury of the Gods for themselves can catch it in theaters.
Warner Bros. is making several changes to their upcoming release schedule. It was announced today that Shazam: Fury of the Gods, which stars Zachary Levi as the titular hero will now hit theaters on March 17, 2023. This pushes the film back four months from its original holiday season release date of December 21, 2022. The film is the follow-up to 2019's Shazam and will be filling the release date of James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom which was moved from its March 17 release to a much later Christmas Day release on December 25, 2023.
While the three-month delay of the Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a sudden change, it isn't without a few positives that have come out of this move, one being that the superhero picture is no longer competing with Avatar: The Way of Water, which is set to premiere in theaters a week prior to the old release date on December 16. With Shazam! Fury of the Gods also not being so close to the anticipated Avatar follow-up, it also means that the DC film will have access to Imax screenings that would have been taken up by James Cameron's sequel. Deadline also notes the success that Matt Reeve's The Batman saw this year with a similar March release, opening at $134 million before finalizing at $369.3 million.
In addition to these release date changes, Warner Bros. Discovery has also announced that two films originally announced to be releasing on HBO Max will now be getting theatrical runs. These films are the New Line reboot of House Party directed by Calmatic and produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter as well as Lee Cronin-directed Evil Dead Rise. These films will now release in theaters on December 9, 2022, and April 21, 2023, respectively. These announcements come shortly after major cancellations with the likes of Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt as well as the widespread removal of animated series from HBO Max due to the merger of the streaming service and Discovery+.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is set to see many faces from the original film return with Asher Angel once again playing Billy Batson and Zachary Levi playing the titular Shazam. The cast members Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand, with the superhero versions of these characters being played by Adam Brody, Meagan Good, Ross Butler, and D. J. Cotrona. Grace Caroline Currey will also return to play her character from the first film as well as the superhero version of her, replacing Michelle Borth. Along with the returning cast, the film will also introduce new characters played by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is currently set to be released in theaters on March 17, 2023. You can check out the trailer for the upcoming DC film below:
Shazam has had a tumultuous history over at DC Comics. Initially, a rival for Superman while published by Fawcett Comics, he was later incorporated into the DC Universe. Sadly, he's never quite achieved all that he could under DC's control, and it shows with the many divergent takes that they've had for him.
One of these was Shazam: The New Beginning by Roy Thomas, Dann Thomas, and Tom Mandrake. Introducing several radical changes for the World's Mightiest Mortal, would stay with the character. Unfortunately, the story itself wouldn't, as it was quickly supplanted by another post-Crisis on Infinite Earth's origin and ultimately forgotten.
What Changes Did Shazam: The New Beginning Bring to Captain Marvel?
Published in 1987, Shazam: The New Beginning was a book that came out after the miniseries Legends, which itself was the first appearance of Captain Marvel in the new, post-Crisis continuity. Much like with other major heroes, there were several big changes made to the character, namely in terms of his relationships. In this continuity, Billy Batson, while still an orphan like usual, lived with his uncle Dudley Batson. This was a new take on "Uncle Marvel," a bumbling buffoon named Dudley that befriended the Marvel Family in the old comics. Though he wasn't actually their uncle, his ultimately affable nature made him like family.
Also sharing a blood relation to Billy was none other than his arch foe, Dr. Sivana. Essentially standing in for Billy's evil uncle Ebenezer, the corrupt scientist Sivana sought to use Billy for financial gain more than anything. Black Adam was also in the story, though he, thankfully, wasn't added to Billy Batson's family tree. Perhaps the biggest change to things was the fact that Billy retained his personality whenever he transformed into Captain Marvel. Beforehand, Captain Marvel had an entirely different personality, but that was no longer the case.
Not only is the wizard Shazam himself shocked by this, but he also seems to remember the original Marvel Family from before the events of Crisis. This included both Captain Marvel Jr. and Billy Batson's sister Mary. Billy's mentally remaining a child as Captain Marvel is now a hallmark of the character, likely due to it being the ultimate fruition of the wish fulfillment concept behind him. Sadly for the creative team, that's about the only thing that would stay in continuity.
Jerry Ordway's The Power of Shazam Completely Erased The New Beginning
Despite the popularity of Shazam: The New Beginning, the series never had a follow-up or ongoing series. Seven years later, Captain Marvel would finally get another chance for the spotlight, but not quite in a way that developed what had come before. Jerry Ordway rebooted his continuity again in The Power of Shazam, with this miniseries leading to an ongoing monthly title of the same name. It did away with The New Beginning, with the only change that it kept being that Billy mentally stayed the same whenever he transformed. Dr. Sivana's being a corrupt business could arguably be based on his scheming as Billy's uncle in the previous take, but it was more likely meant to reflect the similar changes made to Lex Luthor by John Byrne's Superman reboot.
That reboot of the Man of Steel eventually led to Superman's popular "triangle era," with one of the creators of this period being Jerry Ordway. It's possible that his popularity on those titles allowed him to take on Captain Marvel, especially since DC had done nothing major with the character in nearly a decade by that point. On top of that, Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! made further changes to the timeline, so the Big Red Cheese was due for another origin story.
Five years ago, Shazam: The New Beginning was rereleased for the book's 30th anniversary, and this is about the most that DC has acknowledged the story. Despite how much it's been forgotten, it had an inarguable impact on the Shazam mythos. Perhaps the best representation of this is seen in the DC Extended Universe, with the Billy Batson of the Shazam! movies clearly related to what Roy Thomas once did with the character.
Since Superman took to the skies in Man of Steel, the DC Expanded Universe has experienced a topsy turvy fluctuation in power levels. On the one hand, Superman could still be considered the most powerful being in the universe, but in a world with Darkseid, even that could be up for debate. But now, things have changed even more with the introduction of Black Adam. However, with Superman seemingly AWOL, the only hero who could stand a chance against him would be Shazam. That said, the Wizard's champion may be more than underqualified to take on such a foe.
In the San Diego Comic-Con trailer for Black Adam, the titular anti-hero goes toe to toe with each member of the Justice Society of America. While their efforts to hold him back were valiant, Adam seemingly dispatched all of them with little to no effort on his part. While most of these characters wouldn't have stood a chance against him in the comics either, the real feat of strength came when he was able to hold off the powerful Doctor Fate. With that logic, Billy Batson may have a real dilemma when it's time for him to face off against the powerful being.
In Shazam!, Billy does his best to be the best hero he can be. But unlike Adam, he was never a warrior, let alone seen prolonged combat. In fact, the goodness of his heart and youth made him the prime candidate to wield the powers of The Wizard. That was because, in the past, he had granted his powers to Teth Adam, who used them to create destruction rather than save lives. But with Billy far from ready to take on someone of equal strength, how would a battle between Shazam and Black Adam go?
Adam has shown that he treats his powers as an extension of himself. As a result, he's grown accustomed to his strength, flight and lighting abilities. And compared to Billy, he's even more capable of wielding them in creative and destructive ways. In the past, Billy has shown that he prefers to use his powers like Superman, meaning that he rarely uses his lighting powers offensively. That said, he's also incredibly durable, which he would need to face off against Adam.
Another disadvantage Billy has against Adam is that he doesn't have the killer instinct that has honed Adam into the person he is today. In Black Adam, he's already shown that he's not afraid to take a life if it's for the greater good. However, Billy, being a child, is far from prepared to face a choice of that magnitude. Because of this, Adam could easily take advantage of his hesitation and nearly kill Billy to prove that he shouldn't have ever had the power.
While there's still hope for Billy in a showdown between him and Black Adam, it won't be a pretty fight. In fact, Adam will likely make an example of him before Billy finally embraces his inner strength. But even though a hero is likely to come out on top, there's no doubt that Shazam is still grossly unprepared to face Adam. And the power Adam will demonstrate in his film will likely display that in a destructive fashion.
To see Shazam's enemy make his big screen debut, Black Adam opens in theaters Oct. 21.
