2016 was a big year for the DCEU, as we were introduced to a bigger world through “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad.” The films did well at the box office, but unfortunately for DC and Warner Bros. they were both met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike.
Looking ahead to the future of the DCEU, the tone and style of the upcoming films has been a very hot topic. One of the biggest complaints people had about “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was that it was too bleak. 2017 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for the DCEU, as “Wonder Woman” is set to hit theaters in June, and Zack Snyder has confirmed that fans can look forward to a “lighter tone” from “Justice League” when it’s released in November.
One of the other upcoming DCEU films that has been a hot topic as of late is “Shazam” which is set to star The Rock as Black Adam. However, The Rock won’t just be starring in the film, he will also be working as a co-producer with his producing partner/manager Dany Garcia.
It seems that both Dany and The Rock may be concerned that “Shazam” could receive a similar reaction to “Batman v Superman” or “Suicide Squad” as Dany noted during an interview last year that it’s important to them that they control the tone of the film.
“We don’t feel fettered by, or constrained by, the successes or failures and challenges of the other projects,” Garcia said. “That was a key component to our participation—that we be able to control the tone and the voice, and do it the way we want to.”
The Rock’s camp appears to be very motivated when it comes to getting it right with “Shazam” and The Rock recently met with DC to discuss not only the future of the his upcoming film, but the future of the DC universe as a whole. The Rock posted the following on Instagram:
“Had a very cool and strategic meeting with the heads of DC about their entire universe. As a hard core DC fan, to get a real sense of the tonal shifts and developments coming in these future movies has me fired up. Something we, as DC fans have all been waiting for for a very long time. Hope, optimism & FUN. Even when talking about the the most ruthless villain/anti-hero of all time finally coming to life. Prepare yourselves DC Universe.”
“Shazam” is currently set to be released in 2019 and a start date for production has yet to be announced.
