Warner Bros.
A few years back, the DCEU was in such a moribund place that the modest and surprising success of 2019’s Shazam! was considered both a massive win and one of the best films in the franchise.
Despite that, though, the 2022 sequel has completely flopped at the box office, likely due to the upcoming reboot of the DCU that’s being instituted by new studio head James Gunn.
Still, Warner Bros. execs are looking for blame and have somehow pinned it on The Rock, with a new report from The Wrap detailing how he allegedly refused to crossover with Zachary Levi’s Shazam, both in last fall’s Black Adam and this year’s Fury of the Gods, despite the comic book history that the two characters share.
Then, Levi obviously got word of the report and shared it on his Instagram, leaving some movie fans jokingly worried The Rock is going to respond WWE-style.
This is what happened the last time someone started beef and blamed "The Rock's ego" pic.twitter.com/pyScSTPg6d
— Rebel Mooning (@snyder_all) March 21, 2023
The Rock and Zachary Levi fighting in real life pic.twitter.com/Yar94J2o4X
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) March 21, 2023
The major reason, people rejected Shazam 2 is your annoying character Levi, not The Rock. Take responsibility and move on 🗿 pic.twitter.com/OujGNhDJzr
— Geralt of North (@Itssan17) March 22, 2023
It’s certainly interesting, as I pointed out on our Post Credit Pocast’s Twitter account, that Levi decided to speak out against The Rock only *after* Shazam! Fury of the Gods tanked and not during the multiple years the project was in development.
Zachary Levi chirping Zachary Levi
The Rock on IG during the
after Shazam 2 multiple years it
bombs was in development pic.twitter.com/ZBNWOmuT29— Post Cred Pod (@PostCredPod) March 21, 2023
Zachary Levi vs The Rock pic.twitter.com/oeQteSnFtd
— DC Brasil Team (@dcbrteam) March 22, 2023
Nobody:
The Rock and Zachary Levi when Zachary Levi tried to get a cameo in Black Adam instead of Superman: https://t.co/4DsUmRcWL8
— Public Enemies Podcast (@TheEnemiesPE3) March 22, 2023
Obviously, Levi is lashing out as a result of the Shazam franchise coming to an end, thus relegating him back to the bit parts he was playing after Chuck and prior to his misguided DCEU casting.
Maybe if Zachary Levi and the Rock talked shit and beefed before Black Adam or Shazam 2 came out people would’ve been interested in seeing both movies. pic.twitter.com/wRxkFzYg0A
— W (@Uber_Kryptonian) March 22, 2023
Ok it is very funny that I’ve seen like 100 posts about Zachary Levi insta story blaming The Rock for Shazam’s failure and not a one that his next story is about how cornflakes are responsible for declining testosterone in America and the subsequent downfall of society.
— Leila Latif (@Leila_Latif) March 22, 2023
Zachary Levi thinking Shazam bombed because The Rock is NOT in it, and not because he IS in it, is my drug of choice. pic.twitter.com/dFCWLAihms
— Eric Italiano (@eric_ital) March 21, 2023
In addition to Levi, Shazam! Fury of the Gods — which hit theaters on Friday, March 17 — stars Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, and Helen Mirren. Clearly sensing that the film was going to be dead on arrival, Warner Bros. also revealed the appearance of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in the marketing for the movie.
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