DCU: Now is the time for the Shazam franchise to focus on Mary Marvel

Shazam! Fury of the Gods was not a box office success but it doesn’t mean the story should end. Now is the time to bring in Mr. Mind, and spotlight Mary Batson, the hero.

No, Shazam! Fury of the Gods didn’t deliver in terms of week one box office success. Why should that stop James Gunn and Peter Safran from continuing to produce films of a hero with so much story to tell? Fury of the Gods was a fun movie that capitalized off of the Shazam family lore with more action and plot than diving into the character as it did before.

David Sandberg may have directed his last superhero film, but a new director and writer could take Shazam in a different direction. It’s time to scale back the budget and continue to lean more into the grounded fantasy aspect we loved about Shazam!. A grounded fantasy realism film based on Shazam and the Monster Society of Evil could be a thrilling and action-packed adventure that showcases the full range of Shazam’s powers and abilities.

There are two directions this film can go. One is Shazam returning for a third film as the focused hero. The other would be Mary Marvel played by Grace Caroline Currey, who is ready to star in her own film. Some DC fans are clamoring for Currey to be Wonder Woman, but that wouldn’t make sense. The 26 year old actress is already Mary Marvel, so why not feature her in a film?

Having a DC Universe film with her as the star would be an exciting and entertaining superhero adventure that feels fresh as the leader of the family with Shazam off with the JSA. Taking on Mister Mind and the Society of Evil would be a perfect way to spotlight her character.

Who is Mister Mind and the Society of Evil?

Mister Mind is a uniquely memorable and unsettling villain fans got a gimplse of in the original Shazam! film. As a telepathic worm-like creature with the power to manipulate and control the minds of those around him, he poses a unique threat to the heroes of the DC universe. And when he’s leading the Monster Society of Evil, a group of supervillains that includes characters like Dr. Sivana and Black Adam, the threat level only grows.

But it’s not just Mister Mind’s abilities that make him a perfect addition to the DC film universe. His appearance and otherworldly nature also make him a visually striking and memorable villain. And as the DC films continue to explore new and exciting corners of the universe, Mister Mind would be a perfect fit for the kind of weird and wonderful storytelling that fans have come to expect from the comics.

Of course, Mister Mind and the Monster Society of Evil aren’t just great villains in their own right. They’re also deeply tied to the lore of the Shazam character and his supporting cast. In the comics, Mister Mind and the Monster Society have been a recurring threat for Shazam and his allies, making them an essential part of the World’s Mightiest Mortal’s rogues’ gallery.

How a Mary Marvel film could work

Scaling the budget back and hiring someone like Beasts of the Southern Wild director Benh Zeitlin would be epic. We could see a Mary Marvel film open with a brief flashback to Mary Batson’s origins as an orphan then a hero, establishing her powers and how she came to be. From there, the story could jump forward several years to the present day, where we find Mary Marvel as an established and beloved hero in the world.

However, her peace would be short-lived when a new threat emerges in the form of the Monster Society of Evil, a shadowy organization led by the enigmatic Mr. Mind. As the society begins to wreak havoc on the city, Mary would be called into action to stop them.

Initially, Mary’s powers are not enough to take down the Monster Society of Evil, and she realizes that she needs to rely on her intellect, which was established in previous films. She would then begin to investigate the society, gathering information on their members and their plans.

As she delves deeper into the society’s inner workings, Mary would begin to uncover a dark conspiracy that threatens not just the city, but the entire world. She would then realize that she must go up against Mr. Mind himself if she hopes to save the day.

Throughout the film, we would see Mary struggling to balance her superhero duties with her personal life, as she tries to maintain her secret identity as normal college student. Seeing her grapple with the responsibility of being a hero and the weight of her powers, makes her a relatable and sympathetic character. Of course, we could see her call upon her brothers and sister to help.

Sure, the box office returns disappointed for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but there are workarounds to continue the franchise, including more character-driven lower-budget stories like this one for Mary Marvel. And with that, there is no better time than now for Peter Safran and James Gunn to feature Mary Marvel taking on Mister Mind and the Monster Society of Evil.

Would you like to see Mary Marvel headline her own DC movie? How would you continue the Shazam! franchise? Let us know in the comments below!