Skip to main content

All the Easter eggs in Shazam: Fury of the Gods

At long last, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has struck theaters with another exciting adventure following Billy Batson and his super-powerful foster family. As with many other comic book movies, there are plenty of Easter eggs laid throughout this superhero blockbuster that reference previous comics, films, and TV shows.

Now that the film has finally made its worldwide premiere, here’s a guide to all the hidden and extra details found in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Recommended Videos

The doctor’s toys

The pediatrician's office in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In Billy’s first scene in the film, he takes part in a therapy session with his doctor (pediatrician, actually). In his office, the audience finds a kids’ table with the cursed Annabelle doll that appears in The Conjuring Universe. This is clearly a reference to director David F. Sandberg’s previous film featuring said doll, Annabelle: Creation.

However, there are also plush dolls of heroes like Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin, and Green Lantern. There’s also a painting of Starro on the wall, which is strange since he killed and brainwashed countless people in The Suicide Squad.

Lotta Losten

Dr. Lynn in "Shazam!"
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Director David F. Sandberg’s wife Lotta Losten makes a brief cameo in this movie as a woman whom Shazam saves from falling off a bridge. Loste is also known for playing Dr. Lynn, who disintegrates after touching a magic door in the first Shazam! film, as well as the protagonist in many of Sandberg’s short horror films. At this point, it’s pretty clear Sandberg loves putting his wife in scary situations on camera.

The burning violin

Thaddeus Sivana in the Rock of Eternity in "Shazam!"
Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the most bizarre artifacts found in the Rock of Eternity is a violin that’s always burning. This mystical relic reappears in the sequel and is the subject of many jokes, and is even used as a distraction to trick the Daughters of Atlas.

Some comic book fans may know this is an obscure reference to Nero’s fiddle from Captain Marvel Adventures #64, which shows the villain Oggar enchant the artifact to make it release fire, nearly turning New York City to ashes.

Pedro’s book report

Pedro holding a failed math test in "Shazam!"
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the first film, Billy’s foster brother Pedro is seen throwing out a test marked with a failing grade, indicating that he is having trouble in school. Though this subplot isn’t mentioned much after that, the sequel does call back to it with the revelation that the Shazam Family’s sentient pen Steve has been secretly writing Pedro’s book reports for him.

Shazam’s real name

Shazam points to something in Shazam: Fury of the Gods.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Even in his second film, Billy still can’t figure out the name of his superhero persona. Though he and his team are dubbed the “Philadelphia Fiascos” by the local news, one bystander lovingly refers to Billy as “Captain Marvel” later in the film.

Many fans know that this was the hero’s original moniker in the comics before facing a trademark battle over a certain character of the same name in Marvel Comics. Fun fact: the bystander who calls Shazam “Captain Marvel” is played by TV’s Michael Gray, who played Billy Batson on The Shazam!/Isis Hour.

The Fast and the Furious

Hespera in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the scene where Billy meets with Hespera, Billy argues that he has the upper hand in their divine conflict because he has his family supporting him, all while mentioning that he’s watched all the Fast of the Furious films.

While it’s common knowledge that this series of action blockbusters emphasizes family to the point of widespread parody, this bit of dialogue may also be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Mirren’s role in the franchise as Magdalene Shaw.

The cyclops

The cyclops in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This superhero film pays homage to classic cinema with the appearance of the mythical cyclops, who is birthed from the Tree of Life when Kalypso plants it in Philadelphia. This creature’s design strongly resembles that of the cyclops seen in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad which was designed by Ray Harryhausen, whose work in stop-motion animation set the stage for future CGI blockbusters like Fury of the Gods.

The man in black

Shazam faces an unseen enemy in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

During the film’s climactic third act, Billy’s red super suit becomes so burnt that it is rendered almost completely black. This costume design likely references Billy’s predecessor, Black Adam, who made his DCEU debut not long ago in his film of the same name.

The fact that Billy now resembles him as he battles Kalypso seems to complete the former’s complete transformation as the legendary Champion of Shazam, albeit one with a much purer heart.

The Justice Society

Shazam in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods."
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The film’s mid-credits scene features the surprise return of Emilia Harcourt and John Economos. The duo is seen inviting Shazam to join the Justice Society of America, who introduced themselves to the DCEU in Black Adam (perhaps this is another setup for Shazam to face his antiheroic counterpart). Shazam quickly accepted the offer, but only because he thought they meant the Justice League.

The hero then goes on a long rant questioning why both teams have similar names, and he throws some suggestions for different names using an online thesaurus. This ends with Shazam suggesting “The Avengers Society,” which he likes the most. Gee, wonder why.

Topics
Anthony Orlando
Anthony Orlando is a writer/director from Oradell, NJ. He spent four years at Lafayette College, graduating CUM LAUDE with a…
How AI can help new filmmakers create movies without replacing human creativity
A group of people shooting a scene outdoors.

Cutting-edge technology and filmmaking have always gone hand in hand, with the industry often at the forefront of adopting new ways to bring stories to life on the big screen. From the integration of sound in the late 1920s to the invention of CinemaScope in the 1950s and the surge of popularity of IMAX in the 21st century, new technology has always been embraced by the film industry as a way to tell old stories in new ways.

It’s no different with artificial intelligence (AI), which is quickly becoming an integral part of the several stages of film production. Recent advancements in AI and other emerging technologies have proven beneficial for filmmaking, particularly in lowering the barriers to entry into the complex, and often expensive, art form.
How is AI currently being used across the industry?

Read more
The Studio teaser trailer: Seth Rogen is a struggling Hollywood executive in Apple TV+ comedy
Seth Rogen raises his eyebrow and stares in The Studio.

In the first teaser trailer for The Studio, Seth Rogen's Matt Remick learns that running a movie studio is far from glamorous.

Matt is the new head of the embattled Continental Studios. "I got into this because I love movies," Matt tells Catherine O’Hara's character. As Matt quickly learns, the job is much harder than originally thought. From disasters on set and behind-the-scenes fights to unruly actors and pretentious artists, Matt's dream job might destroy him in the long run.

Read more
How to Train Your Dragon teaser trailer: First look at Hiccup and Toothless in live-action movie
A boy touches the nose of a dragon.

Hiccup and Toothless are ready for an adventure in the first teaser trailer for How to Train Your Dragon, a shot-for-shot live-action reimagining of the 2010 animated movie from DreamWorks animation.

On the isle of Berk, Vikings and dragons are bitter enemies. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Mason Thames) is instructed to kill a dragon to complete his Viking training. However, Hiccup defies his orders when he befriends a Night Fury dragon he names Toothless. When a new threat emerges, the newfound partnership between Hiccup and Toothless becomes the key to saving both Vikings and dragons.

Read more