Zachary Levi Drops Bombshell Interview: The Real Truth Behind Shazam 2's Negative Reviews

Highlights

Zachary Levi addresses negative reviews and criticism of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," acknowledging the mixed response and unkindness from some.

Levi relished the joy of creating the film and embraced his character, yet he recognizes the uncertainty that lies ahead, considering how the film will be received by critics and audiences alike.

The demise of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" signified the conclusion of the Snyderverse. This outcome underscores the prevailing weariness within both viewers and critics towards the genre, with no apparent roadmap to reclaim the prior era of cinematic greatness before the pandemic.

After its release in March 2023, Shazam! Fury of the Gods faced negative reviews and criticism, prompting Zachary Levi to speak out. Despite setting a record as the DC Extended Universe's lowest-grossing entry, many see this film as the Zach Snyder-led franchise's last disappointing effort.

Taking place four years after the events of the first film, Shazam! Fury of the Gods follows the 'Shazamily' as they confront the Daughters of Atlas, seeking revenge for their father's death at the hands of the Wizard. Alongside this battle, they also grapple with the challenges of growing apart and discovering their individual paths. This installment is more action-packed than the first and features a notable cameo from a major DCEU star. Zachary Levy is convinced that Shazam 2 surpasses its predecessor.

However, in light of the imminent DCU reboot and other concerns raised by fans, the film received a mixed response upon its release, with box office results even grimmer than the already pessimistic projections for Shazam 2. During his appearance on the FilmUp podcast, Levi candidly shared his thoughts on Shazam 2 and the negative reception it garnered. "I had a truly fulfilling experience working on that film and portraying that character. However, I cannot predict what the future holds for it all because, unfortunately, the sequel did not receive the same level of acclaim," Levi expressed. "The audience score remains relatively positive, but the critic score was curiously and surprisingly low, and the public reaction was incredibly harsh."

Levi also discussed the positive and creative environment surrounding the sequel following the success of the first film, which was praised for its depth compared to other DCEU films at the time. "After the success of the first film, the decision was made to make a second one, and when they presented the idea to me, I found it really enjoyable," Levi expressed. "Even before they approached me with the concept, I had conversations with Walter Hamada about exploring the Greek gods and incorporating that aspect since it's a part of my character. And ultimately, that's exactly what we did, and it was a really fun experience."

The disappointment of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" had a significant impact on the future of the Snyderverse, magnifying the moderate issues the project had and turning them into almost comically large problems in the eyes of some. Warner Bros Entertainment attempted to address the decline by releasing the alternate ending of "Shazam" on YouTube for free, hoping to shift attention back to the standalone power of the franchise. Despite these efforts, the project has only received more criticism leading up to the release of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU.

The reception of Shazam! Fury of the Gods was not an isolated incident. Blue Beetle, another DC and WBD film, is already heading towards being a box office failure, and Marvel Studios' latest Disney Plus project is also performing poorly. This indicates that both audiences and critics are experiencing genre fatigue, and there is no evident way to return to the successful pre-pandemic period. Shazam! Fury of the Gods can be streamed on Max.

Source: TheFilmUp Podcast/YouTube