Anghus Houvouras on why Shazam is the cure for the DC Extended Universe…

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has everyone talking. Unfortunately for Warner Bros. the discussion isn’t overwhelmingly positive. Critics were unkind to Zack Snyder’s epic superhero showdown and fans are as polarized as a pair of Ray Bans on the South Pole. There’s a lot of posturing and prognosticating the future of the DC Extended Universe. Those who believe this to be a disappointing launch for the Justice League are deriding the film’s box office performance. The film should end up north of 900 million dollars worldwide, with the potential for crossing the billion-dollar mark if the R-Rated extended cut is given a theatrical release.

It’s strange how many sites are calling the film a failure because it won’t hit the billion dollar mark. While it’s difficult to argue that a better received, less polarizing film would have had a higher box office ceiling, it still feels a little crazy to call ‘almost’ a billion dollars some kind of unmitigated tragedy.

Whether you’re a fan of the current incarnation of Batman and Superman on the silver screen, everyone can agree that Superman has become a darker, more brooding version of the character. This isn’t the Superman of yesteryear who protected the citizens of Metropolis with a wink and a smile and an awkward alter ego who fumbled his way through the offices of the Daily Planet.

I don’t mind if Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are going to be handled with a deadly seriousness. However the DC Universe could use a heaping helping of levity. A superhero that captures the wonder and thrills of the comics and is accessible to younger viewers. One that could help bring a lighter side to the DC Extended Universe.

Someone like Shazam.

Shazam (aka DC’s Captain Marvel) is a superhero that has been ripe for cinematic adaptation. A character that could serve as an exceptional bridge to the rest of the DC Extended Universe. A brave hero on as powerful as Superman with a kid friendly alter ego in Billy Batson. A Shazam film could be the Spider-Man of the DC Extended Universe. One that delivers us a teenage protagonist forced to deal with the overwhelming responsibilities of being a super hero. The power of a God in the hand of someone still trying to find themselves.

We know the villain will be Black Adam (to be played by Dwayne Johnson), who is a darker version of the title character. The character of Black Adam has been developed over the years to become a more nuanced villain, going so far to become something of an anti-hero. The kind of character who wants to protect the people of his home country and is willing to brutally kill those who would do them harm.

Can you think of a better story to balance out Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice? It could be the philosophical bookend to Batman v Superman. The film where Shazam/Billy Batson learns that being a hero is about saving lives, not taking them. We’re used to seeing Superman being the beacon of light in DC Comics, but in this current landscape Shazam could totally take that torch and run with it. With the speed of Mercury, no less.

A young God-like hero trying to find his way and a villain who is willing to kill in order to see justice served. This is a slam dunk waiting to be alley-ooped by Warner Bros. And yet, the Shazam movie doesn’t seem to have any sense of immediacy for the studio. I’m not a fan of playing ‘Armchair Studio Executive’, but after the relentless darkness of their first two entries into the DC Extended Universe it feels like something with a lighter touch would help broaden the appeal of this interconnected superhero universe.

Warner Bros. needs to get Shazam in the pipeline now. It could cure a lot of ills that currently plague the DC Extended Universe. It lightens the darker tone, gives audiences a relatable hero that could deliver the noble spirit that Superman has lacked, and could be an amazing addition to the Justice League franchise.

Since they start shooting Justice League this week, I’m guessing there’s no time to work the character in to the first installment. Warner Bros. should be doing everything in their power to make this film happen sooner rather than later. Before Aquaman. Before The Flash. Before Cyborg.

Shazam is what the DC Extended Universe desperately needs.

Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker and the co-host of Across the Pondcast. Follow him on Twitter.

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