This week, DC Comics and movie fans got the news they’ve been waiting for as new DC Studios executives James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled the first set of films and series that will make up the new DC Universe. However, there are still questions about what’s going on with some of the legacy DC movie characters, and one of them, Shazam!Zachary Levi, is currently in the news for all the wrong reasons
This last weekend Zachary Levi tweeted in response to a comment about pharmaceutical company Pfizer that some see as anti-vaccination. Many were quite critical of Levi’s comments, and 24 News Bulletin was in attendance at the DCU media event when Gunn was asked what he thought of the DC star’s tweet. Gun replied…
The actors and directors I work with will say things they agree with and things they disagree with. And it will happen. I don’t have a list of things someone should say because of what I think. And you know, I can’t change my plans all the time because an actor says something I don’t agree with. Likewise, if someone does something morally wrong, that’s another story. We have to take all of this into account. It’s a balance, it’s a modern world, and it’s a different place.
While James Gunn is clear that there are things an actor might say or do that would cause him to cut ties with them, the simple act of expressing an opinion that Gunn disagrees with isn’t a part of it. As he says, that would make the job too difficult to do. Without saying it, Gunn seems to make it clear that he doesn’t agree with Levi, but that’s where it all begins and ends. Opinions are not worth fighting for.
That said, it’s unclear what kind of future Zachary Levi has with DC under the new regime. In the video posted to social media, Gunn mentioned Shazam: Fury of the Gods, the upcoming sequel, saying the character exists “in his own part of the DCU” but said he “connects” to the universe. Always, since Shazam! the sequel comes first the flashwhich we know will reboot the universe, we don’t really know if the character will move forward or if Levi will play the character if he does.
Some have even suggested that Levi’s catchy tweet may have been an intentional move designed to hurt the film, possibly because the actor knew he wasn’t moving forward with the franchise. That said, there is no direct evidence that this is the case.
Source: Cinemablend
