Another Pass at Shazam! Fury of the Gods

This week on Another Pass, Sam and Case are joined by Zorikh Lequidre to revisit Shazam! Fury of the Gods. We break down the sequel’s mythic swing, its tonal tightrope between family comedy and divine spectacle, and whether this lightning strike deserved a brighter fate at the box office.

Another Pass Full Episode Originally aired: February 13, 2026 

Music by Vin Macri and Matt Brogan

Podcast Edited by Sophia Ricciardi

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Outline

Shazam Franchise and Character Legacy

The discussion highlighted the complex evolution of the Shazam character and its multiple incarnations, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining clarity in the franchise (02:00).

• Complex Character History and Naming (02:43)

  • The Shazam character has undergone multiple renamings, now sometimes called "The Captain" to differentiate from original versions.
  • Comics have introduced variants like Mary Marvel and Junior (Freddie Freeman’s hero name) to expand the lore.
  • The character’s fluctuating comic presence, with cancellations and restarts, impacts fan engagement and continuity.
  • Zorak’s project, Captain Marvel Culture, explores these variants in cultural and historical contexts, highlighting the character’s societal relevance.

• Actor and Fan Perspectives on Shazam (07:30)

  • Sam Alicea shared her positive cosplay experience as Mary Marvel, emphasizing the character’s wholesome reception in fandom.
  • Both Sam and Case Aiken noted that the first Shazam movie was colorful and fun, appealing to casual viewers with good pacing and humor.
  • Case's personal connection to the character goes back to childhood superhero creations, reinforcing the deep fan roots.
  • The first film balanced the youthful and superhero personas well, unlike the sequel where the older cast created dissonance.

• Challenges with Sequel Timing and Casting (14:00)

  • The four-year gap between the first and second Shazam movies caused problematic aging of the cast, making the characters less believable as teenagers.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic limited crowd scenes, affecting the movie’s atmosphere and fight sequences, leading to a “COVID movie” feel with socially distanced extras.
  • The sequel’s timing made character maturity inconsistent, with Zachary Levi’s older age conflicting with immature superhero behavior, reducing audience sympathy.
  • The lack of continuity in character growth and the absence of younger kid scenes weakened the family dynamic established in the first film.

Plot, Powers, and Mythological Elements

The movie’s story and mythological adaptations were discussed, focusing on the Daughters of Atlas and their powers, plus how mythology was reinterpreted (28:58).

• Invented Mythology and Powers of Atlas’ Daughters (29:00)

  • The film introduced three daughters of Atlas, a creative deviation from classical mythology that was accepted as a fun concept.
  • Helen Mirren’s character uses force fields and telekinesis, Lucy Liu’s character employs “chaos” powers resembling mind control, and Rachel Zegler’s character has axis-based powers, visually impressive but not well explained.
  • The powers were often scene-dependent rather than consistent, especially Helen Mirren’s varying abilities.
  • The dome barrier served as a plot device to isolate the final fight and prevent intervention from other heroes, a trope common in superhero films.

• Mythology vs. Comic Lore (31:33)

  • The movie used traditional Shazam power origins (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury) rather than newer comic variations.
  • Discussion considered linking the characters to the broader DC mythos, such as the New Gods, but the film stuck to simpler concepts.
  • The film’s magic and powers were occasionally connected to Dungeons & Dragons references, reflecting the script’s mix of fantasy influences.
  • The casting of iconic actors like Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu added gravitas despite the powers being plot-driven.

• Narrative and Visual Critiques of Powers and Effects (35:00)

  • The dome and powers’ visual effects felt forced or inconsistent, serving more as story contrivances than meaningful world-building.
  • The chaotic power, mainly mind control, lacked thematic clarity despite being the most consistent.
  • The movie struggled to integrate powers into the plot logically, often introducing new abilities at convenience moments.
  • The limited impact of the dome on the city was noted, with little attention to realistic consequences of such an event.

Family Dynamics and Character Development

A major theme was how the sequel mishandled the Shazam family dynamic, focusing too much on superhero forms and not enough on the kids’ human sides (40:00).

• Underused Supporting Characters and Forced Representation (40:00)

  • Pedro’s gay reveal felt forced due to minimal screen time and lack of character development.
  • The less prominent kids, especially Eugene and Pedro, were overshadowed by their superhero forms, weakening emotional engagement.
  • Darla remained the heart of the family, carrying much of the emotional weight and humor, consistent with the first film.
  • The sequel relied heavily on superhero personas rather than showing genuine child characters, harming the family’s relatability.

• Mismatch of Actor Ages and Character Portrayals (46:30)

  • The aging cast, particularly Zachary Levi, struggled to convincingly portray teenage characters, making immature behavior less palatable.
  • The lack of contrasting younger versions of Billy and other kids reduced the dynamic tension present in the original movie.
  • The sequel missed chances to explore Billy’s growth and his struggles with leadership and abandonment issues meaningfully.
  • Sam noted the film’s good attempt to show Billy’s fear of aging out of foster care as a motivation, but this was not fully developed.

• Lost Opportunities for Emotional Payoff (53:00)

  • The film failed to create a satisfying emotional journey for Billy, especially regarding his insecurities and leadership challenges.
  • The family’s support was underutilized in key moments, leaving Billy’s character arc feeling incomplete.
  • The sequel lacked the sense of belonging and acceptance that made the first film’s family dynamic resonate.
  • Case and Sam suggested that a powerful second-act scene showing Billy’s vulnerability and the family’s encouragement was needed to strengthen the story.

Critique and Proposed Fixes for the Sequel

The panel proposed several realistic improvements to the sequel’s structure, pacing, and character focus to enhance its emotional and narrative impact (56:00).

• Strengthening the Second Act and Family Bonding (56:00)

  • Add scenes where the kids remain in their human forms to highlight their vulnerabilities, creating richer character moments.
  • Insert a confrontation scene where Billy expresses frustration at the family’s lack of unity, followed by reassurance from siblings.
  • Shorten or remove the cringy Wonder Woman date scene to maintain tone and pacing.
  • Show more of the lesser-used kids at school, depicting their struggles balancing normal life and superhero identities.

• Improving the Final Battle with the Dragon (31:30, 56:00, 01:32:50)

  • Make the fight more dynamic by having Billy repeatedly say “Shazam” to power up the staff, requiring him to transform back to human form intermittently.
  • Introduce stages in the fight where the hero tries different tactics, fails, then devises a winning plan.
  • Include moments of vulnerability where Billy dodges attacks and avoids damage, adding tension and realism.
  • Use the environment inside the dome better, possibly including some civilians or other stakes, if COVID protocols allow.

• Enhancing Character Scenes and Emotional Arcs (01:40:00)

  • Show the kids’ defeat when Helen Mirren’s character escapes by turning back into their child forms, emphasizing their youth and fallibility.
  • Add a scene where Billy admits to failure and receives encouragement from his siblings, reinforcing the family theme.
  • Develop more natural, character-driven moments such as a school scene involving Skittles, tying in humor and personality.
  • Streamline the plot to reduce the number of major events, allowing more screen time for character interactions and growth.

• Long-Term Franchise Vision: TV Series Format (01:14:30, 01:49:00)

  • The panel agreed a TV series would better suit the story, allowing the actors to age naturally and explore the characters in depth.
  • Proposed dividing the cast so Billy, Mary, and Freddie attend college while the younger kids remain in high school, creating parallel storylines.
  • This approach resembles a “Happy Days with superpowers” format, supporting gradual character evolution and maintaining audience engagement.
  • The TV format would also allow passing powers to new kids as the original characters grow up, ensuring franchise longevity.

Production Context and External Influences

The discussion recognized COVID-19’s major impact on production, release timing, and overall movie quality, affecting creative decisions and execution (14:00, 01:52:00).

• COVID-19 Pandemic Effects (14:00)

  • Production delays and social distancing protocols limited extras and crowd scenes, affecting the movie’s atmosphere and fight choreography.
  • The necessity of a smaller dome and fewer characters in scenes was a direct result of COVID restrictions.
  • The four-year gap between movies was unplanned but forced by the pandemic, causing casting and story continuity issues.
  • These factors contributed to the movie feeling disjointed and less cohesive compared to the first film.

• Script and Franchise Challenges (25:00)

  • Multiple script rewrites were needed after Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam was spun off into his own movie, forcing major plot changes.
  • The absence of Black Adam as a villain removed a key expected antagonist, weakening the sequel’s threat level and fan expectations.
  • The movie was released amid DC’s shifting cinematic universe plans, reducing the likelihood of future sequels or franchise expansion.
  • Despite plans to connect with the Justice Society and tease Mr. Mind, these elements remained unresolved, signaling franchise uncertainty.

• Casting and Political Context (01:06:00)

  • Gal Gadot’s performance as Wonder Woman was noted as uneven and disconnected from the main cast’s energy.
  • The panel acknowledged Gadot’s political stances have affected her reception among some fans, adding complexity to her role’s acceptance.
  • The awkwardness of Billy’s romantic scene with Wonder Woman was criticized for tone and appropriateness, detracting from character coherence.
  • Zachary Levi’s personal controversies and public persona complicated audience reception of his performance, especially given the film’s tonal demands.