The first sequel to James Cameron’s phenomenon Avatar may be arriving 13 years after the initial film, but it seems folks aren’t so quick to write it off as “too little too late.” At least Warner Bros. is threatened by the blue-skinned Na’Vi as it is moving two of its biggest upcoming releases to avoid facing off against this potential blockbuster.
Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, which would have faced off head-to-head with Avatar: The Way of Water, is swooping back about three months to March 17, 2023. This move, in turn, pushed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which was supposed to arrive on March 17, to Christmas Day, December 25, 2023. The first Aquaman also hit during the holiday period, on November 26, 2018, and went on to gross over $1 billion, as family-friendly pics tend to do well during this time. (Oddly, the first Shazam! which was actually set during the Christmas timeframe was released in March of 2019.)
David F. Sandberg, who directed the first Shazam! and its sequel, stated that he was impatient for audiences to see his latest DC project, but he understood that Avatar: The Way of Water would monopolize all of the large format screens like IMAX.
He posted:
“While I’m an impatient bastard who wants people to see it as soon as possible (the film will be fully done in just a few weeks), the move makes sense since Avatar was taking all IMAX/PLF screens. Fury of the Gods is a big movie & should be seen big!”
While I’m an impatient bastard who wants people to see it as soon as possible (the film will be fully done in just a few weeks), the move makes sense since Avatar was taking all IMAX/PLF screens. Fury of the Gods is a big movie & should be seen big! https://t.co/ErzZu41HiD
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) August 24, 2022
This move actually puts the Shazam! sequel closer in line with the release of the first film, and Aquaman 2 as well. Perhaps this was meant to be?
While Aquaman 2 won’t be battling out with an Avatar sequel, it will be facing some stiff competition in the form of Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. Could WB shift this release date again? It’s possible. (Also, reportedly, Aquaman 2 needs more time to complete visual effects, so this delay is a good one.)
Sandberg returned to helm Shazam!: Fury of the Gods. Castmembers Zachary Levi (Shazam), Asher Angel (Billy Batson), Jack Dylan Grazer (Freddie Freeman), Adam Brody (older Freddie), Ian Chen (Eugene), Ross Butler (older Eugene), Faithe Herman (Darla Dudley), Meagan Good (older Darla), Jovan Armand (Pedro Peña), D.J. Cotrona (older Pedro), Marta Milans (Rosa Vásquez), Cooper Andrews (Victor Vásquez), and Djimon Hounsou (The Wizard) will return. Grace Caroline Currey will return as Mary Bromfield and will also portray her “adult” superhero version. New cast members include Rachel Zelger as Anthea, Lucy Liu as Kalypso, and Helen Mirren as Hespera, all daughters of the Titan Atlas.
James Wan, who directed the first Aquaman, also returns for the sequel, which stars Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Amber Heard (Mera), Willem Dafoe (Orm), Patrick Wilson (Orm/Ocean Master), Dolph Lundgren (King Nereus), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Black Manta), Temuera Morrison (Tom Curry), and Nicole Kidman (Atlanna). Ben Affleck will reportedly make a cameo as Batman, reprising his role from several former DC/WB movies. Randall Park’s Doctor Steven Shin will also reportedly resurface.
Again, you can catch Shazam!: Fury of the Gods on March 17, 2023, and for now, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on December 25, 2023.
