Helen Mirren Joins ‘Shazam: Fury Of The Gods’ As Villainous Hespera
by Erik Amaya
It seems Mister Mind will be taking a backseat in the Shazam sequel to Hespera.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Helen Mirren will play the Greek god in Shazam: Fury of the Gods. The site claims she will be “the villain” of the film, but just as quickly mentions she and Rachel Zegler will play sisters who “may or may not be of ill intent.” Maybe Mister Mind is already at work confusing us about the sequel’s plot.
Curiously, Mirren’s character, described as the daughter of Atlas, has no standing in the DC Comics universe, suggesting the story is an entirely new invention. In Greek mythology, she is indeed one of Atlas’s daughters, but along with her sisters, she is said to be more an observer of human affairs than, say, the Fates or the Gods of Olympus.
The film will see Asher Angel return as Billy Batson, the teenager who can become a mystically powered superhero by shouting “Shazam!” In his superhero persona (played by Zachary Levi), he is Earth’s Mightiest Mortal. Though, it remains to be see how the gods will respond to him. Director David F. Sandberg and cast members Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, and Adam Brody are also set to return. Since the first film’s stinger scene, we assumed Mister Mind, who escaped from the Rock of Eternity, would complicate Billy’s life. Maybe he still will. Or maybe he’ll sit this story out only to convince Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) to come from his own film series to do battle with Shazam.
Shazam: Fury of the Gods is set for release on June 2nd, 2023.