DC Extended Universe: Ranking Every Upcoming Film By Anticipation
5. Shazam
Release Date: April 5, 2019
At this point, it feels like the Shazam film has been in the works for forever, with Dwayne Johnson teasing his involvement in the project for just as long. When Man of Steel hit and set the serious tone for the DCEU, it seemed that the potential film about a boy (Billy Batson) who turns into a superhero by saying the word "Shazam" likely wouldn't fit into it, especially when it was being described as having "a sense of fun and a sense of humor."
However, when the full slate of DCEU films was announced, Shazam was included as part of it, with Johnson taking on the role of long-time comic book villain Black Adam instead of the titular hero.
Again, aspects about the film - like the casting of its titular hero or Billy or how exactly it will fit into the DCEU - have yet to become clear, but Johnson's unwavering enthusiasm for the film despite perpetually working on what feels like a hundred different projects at any given time is always infectious whenever he talks it up.
In the wake of the grim seriousness of Batman v Superman, Shazam has every opportunity to bring a lighter touch to the DCEU. It's been teased for years, so it's hard not to reserve excitement until cameras finally start rolling, but it's just as easy to look forward to it regardless thanks to Johnson's ongoing passion and for what Billy, Shazam, and Black Adam could offer the budding franchise.