The sequel to 2019’s Shazam was finally revealed through a jaw-dropping teaser at the recently concluded San Diego Comic-Con, ending an agonizingly long wait. Billy Batson has returned with his entire family, who are now a team of superheroes with divine abilities.
The trailer gave us a preview of some of the new characters who are going to scorch the screen, and as you could think, some of the Gods would not be too happy about it. Here is a list of all the new characters from Shazam: Fury of the Gods, along with information on their intriguing backstories.
Hespera
Hespera was not a part of the huge comic book heritage, therefore, this has to be the most thrilling presence in the film. The news that seasoned actress Helen Mirren had been chosen for the part excited the fans because it meant that she would play one of Billy Batson’s main foes. In Greek mythology, Atlas is thought to have three nymph daughters named Hesperides. She is his daughter.
Hespera is not mentioned in any DC comics, but according to Greek mythology, she is the goddess of immortality. She is not fundamentally evil, and her father, Atlas, who has played both good and evil roles, is not either. Due to this, there have been rumors that Hespera in Shazam: Fury of the Gods may not be wholly wicked, but she will undoubtedly have some significant encounters with the main characters.
Helen Mirren, however, is perfectly suited to essay the role because she has loads of experience in big budget action flicks. Previously, we have seen Sivana as the main villain, and by all likelihood, Hespera is all set to be a far more invincible enemy. Billy and his superhero team will have their hands full if they incur the wrath of a God, or multiple Gods! In Greek mythology, the daughters of Atlas are tasked with the protection of a sacred garden, and it may so happen that Billy somehow steals something from there, and makes some powerful enemies along the way.
We have had instances in the DC universe, where they borrowed heavily from Greek mythology for the likes of Wonder Woman, and this can be a similar case. Hespera might not be too pleased about the fact that the might of Atlas now powers a kid, and she might simply want it all for herself. We also cannot rule out the possibility that the whole thing is a trick being played with the audience, where they are led into thinking that she is the main villain. With the plot being kept under the wraps, there can be all kinds of scenarios, and the only thing that we can say with certainty at this point is that Hellen Mirren as Hespera will be one of the highlights of the upcoming movie!
Kalypso
This is yet another character that DC fans might struggle to recognize because just like Hespera, she never appeared in the comic books. Her origins, however, are similar to that of Hespera, and both are daughters of Atlas in Greek mythology. Her residence is on an isolated island, which many associates with the fabled city of Atlantis. She is the sole guardian and protector of the island, and in Odyssey, she manages to trap Odysseus after falling in love with him.
He was kept in a trance-like state, and he spent seven years of his life without having any consciousness of his situation. Eventually, his love for his wife overpowered the spell, and he screamed out to the Gods for help. Kalypso continued to attempt to keep him as her puppet, but the other Gods appealed to her to free him. When Zeus ordered her to release Odysseus, she had to oblige, and there are some story arcs that suggest that she even bore Odysseus’ children during these seven years.
It has been revealed that Lucy Liu will slip into the role of Kalypso, and this is projected as another powerful supervillain. She is shown wearing armor, and it seems likely that she will work alongside Hespera in this movie. The trailer shows her unique abilities, such as growing a giant tree, much like Poison Ivy.
It is anticipated that while the makers will borrow from Greek mythology in order to develop a story around her, her powers in the movie might far surpass the mythology. If the two main villains in the upcoming movie are daughters of Atlas, you can be sure that even the super-powered family of Billy Baston might find things to be a bit too tricky.
Athena
Unlike Hespera and Kalypso, Athena has a more regular appearance in DC comics. She is famously known for being the creator of Wonder Woman, developing the gallant superhero out of clay in order to answer the prayers of Hippolyta the Amazon. She is also a daughter of Atlas, but most stories surrounding her suggest that she is younger than the other two. While it is still not clear how Athena will be used in the movie, it is suggested that she uses her hands to light up a symbol that loosely resembles rain or the grand cosmos.
Athena is supposed to be the daughter of Zeus according to the mythological lore, but it wouldn’t be a shocker to see the movie change her heritage. It could also be the case that she is actually not the daughter of Atlas, and maybe, this would be kept as one of the surprises for the viewer. It appears as though she is helping Hespera and Kalpso, but their clothes are not exactly very similar.
Rachel Zegler is going to walk in the shoes of this crucial character and we have no reason to doubt her acting credentials. The young actress seemed elated about the opportunity of working alongside such veterans, and she revealed that it was a lot of fun portraying the role on screen. When she hinted about the role being a very complex character, the theories kept coming up regarding the possibilities of Athena in the movie. If all goes well, we are all set to have a breathtaking story on our hands, and the title, Fury of the Gods couldn’t have been more appropriate!
Derek Russo As Atlas
It has been officially announced that Derek Russo will be playing the role of Atlas in Fury of the Gods. However, the makers have been incredibly tight-lipped about any further information on this. While Atlas has been a part of DC, the Titan also has an extensive story arc in Greek mythology. He was among the Gods who challenged Zeus, and they were all defeated. Following the defeat, Atlas was tasked with bearing the weights of heaven.
He struck a deal with a wizard named Mamaragan, who gave his superpowers to a champion that he deemed fit. He is believed to be endowed with Godly physiology, strength, and durability. However, it wasn’t enough when he was attacked by Shazam who was pushed to the brink of insanity by the Batman who Laughs. Lady Shazam saved him after a brutal beating, and she informed him that Shazam’s anger was directed at all Gods in the universe.
Now, there is no saying with certainty that the upcoming movie will even remotely resemble the story that we are familiar with. Clearly, Atlas has a role to play in the narrative, and we cannot wait to see whether or not he ends up opposing his own daughters. If the story is good enough, Shazam: Fury of the Gods will be an absolute showstopper, and the clash of the titans will be a mouth-watering contest to remember for times to come!
Mythical Creatures in Shazam! Fury of the Gods
The San Diego Comic-Con will be remembered for making it a special entry for Shazam yet again, and the trailer lived up to the expectations of the fans. The first movie was unique, and the second one it all set to follow suit. The full-length trailer, however, gives away no major spoilers and keeps the viewers on their toes. One of the best parts of the trailer is probably the one where we get glimpses of certain mythical creatures in the movie.
The Dragon (Ladon)
The last time we all saw a genuinely terrifying Dragon on screen was probably in the Game of Thrones series. You will get a quick peek into a dragon that emerges from the ground and this one looks just as scary if not more! DC comics have previously toyed with a dragon named Ladon, who had a hundred heads and was controlled by Atlas.
Atlas ordered this dragon to guard the sacred garden, and the one you see in the trailer might be a reference of that. The dragon in Fury of the Gods, however, doesn’t have a thousand heads, but the CGI effects are simply out of this world! It is shown spitting blue fire, and you can be sure that the heroes will be battered by the immortals helped by such mythical creatures every now and then!
Unicorns
The true DC fans will have some fond memories of watching Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman riding unicorns on the lost world in Trinity. Well, the upcoming Shazam movie is all set to bring back the magical creatures one more time! Billy Batson’s siblings can be seen riding black unicorns down the street, and the whole scene has a very serious vibe – as if they are all riding into battle! It will certainly be fun to see what other mythical creatures are part of the narrative and how the story handles their presence. But, it is pretty evident that the trailer and its magical introductions have left the fans excited!
Cyclopes
These one-eyed monsters in Greek mythology might just be the surprise package in Shazam: Fury of the Gods! While this is still highly speculative and based on rumors, there has been some noise about the possible presence of these monsters in the narrative. You might be familiar with the ones seen in Wrath of the Titans, and these mutated giant humanoid monsters with incredible strength might just be one of the most hostile enemies for our superheroes. They are known to be extremely aggressive, and they were instrumental during the war of the Gods, and helped in the defeat of Kronos.
These monsters reside on a desolate island, and their aggressive nature prompts them to hunt down humans whenever such an opportunity arises! They might be an ally of the enraged Gods who are looking to settle the scores with Billy Batson, and it would certainly make for a drool-worthy contest. It might have only been announced via concept art so far, but we are curious to see the art translate on screen.
Harpies
In Greco-Roman mythology, Harpy is a wind spirit, and in the Odyssey they were shown to have enough powers to carry people away in a flash. They appear as sudden gusts of wind, and they work tirelessly as Zeus’ pets dispatched to take away certain things or people from the mortal world.
The appearance of these creatures resembles a fusion of a young lady and a giant bird. It has massive wings, and sharp talons, but the face and upper body is that of a lady. If these mythical creatures are brought into the film, the CGI better be good, and one thing can be said with certainty – these things aren’t helping Billy Baston and his crew! Apparently, when you incur the wrath of the Gods, you also have to deal with the fury of their pets!
Manticores
If you are familiar with the Egyptian sphinx, it is not so difficult to imagine the Manticore. It is a creature from the Persian legends, and it has a human head and a lion’s body. The tail comprises of venomous spines, and some versions of this creature even have a scorpion’s tail. It is a fearsome beast that is known for attacking and devouring its victims, and mortals don’t stand a chance against this aggressive creature.
The claws and stings are deadly enough, and to add to that, these creatures can also breathe fire. It is said to be unconquerable, and once again, Manticores, if included in the movie are unlikely to be allies for our superheroes. It seems like just about everything is going against Billy Baston, and he will be up against some invincible opponents who will test the true extent of his powers!
A Few Final Words
The trailer has everything that you would expect. It is quirky, action-packed, and shows the potential to become one of DC’s biggest hits this Christmas. We tried to sum up the possible additions in the sequel, and do let us know in the comments below about your thoughts on these characters. Set a reminder for December 21st because Shazam: Fury of the Gods is all set to be a spectacle that the fans have been waiting for!