From Inspiration to Creation: The Production Design Process of ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods

The upcoming film “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” from New Line Cinema follows the continued story of Billy Batson, a teenager who can transform into the adult Super Hero Shazam by reciting a magic word. This highly-anticipated sequel promises even more thrilling action, adventure, and humor, as well as new fantastical realms, greater threats, monstrous creatures, and mythological beings for our heroes to face.

Billy and his foster siblings are still adjusting to balancing their regular teenage lives with their powerful alter egos, now fully imbued with godly abilities. However, their peace is shattered when the Daughters of Atlas, a trio of ancient vengeful gods, come to Earth in search of the magic they believe was stolen from them long ago. Billy, also known as Shazam, and his family are forced to fight for their powers, their survival, and the future of their world. But can a group of teenagers truly save the day? And does Billy even want to?

The film features an ensemble cast, including returning stars Zachary Levi as Shazam, Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Adam Brody as Super Hero Freddy, Ross Butler as Super Hero Eugene, Meagan Good as Super Hero Darla, D.J. Cotrona as Super Hero Pedro, Grace Caroline Currey as Mary Bromfield/Super Hero Mary, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña, Marta Milans as Rosa Vasquez, Cooper Andrews as Victor Vasquez, and Djimon Hounsou as Wizard.

The film is directed by David F. Sandberg and produced by Peter Safran, with a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan, based on DC characters created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. The executive producers include Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi, and Geoff Johns.

Zachary Levi returns as the irreverent yet sincere Shazam in the epic adventure “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”. Along with his Shazamily, they must use their extraordinary superpowers to face off against the Daughters of Atlas, a trio of fierce Greek goddesses and their monsters who are determined to destroy the world and reclaim their destiny. The film features amped-up action, new worlds, aspirational heroes, menacing villains, and Levi’s signature brand of humor.

According to writer Chris Morgan, penning the sequel was an easy decision because of the groundwork laid by writer Henry Gayden in the original “Shazam!” film. The challenge was to raise the stakes of the story as Billy and the kids grow bigger, matching the world stakes to their personal ones. The potential dissolution of Billy’s family is mirrored by the potential loss of humanity’s existence at the hands of the vengeful goddesses and their mythical creatures, including a gigantic dragon that emanates fear. Morgan encourages viewers to grab their popcorn and enjoy the ride.

As a fan of the first film, Liu was thrilled to portray the multifaceted role of Kalypso in “Fury of the Gods”. The sequel is a supersized version of the original, with even more entertainment and action. Liu reveals that viewers will see more of the Shazamily as they come together to battle the powerful goddesses, who bring even more color and excitement to the established world of “Shazam!”. Liu was excited to be a part of the film and contribute to its thrilling storyline.

To achieve the desired blend of realism and magical elements in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” director David F. Sandberg enlisted production designer Paul Kirby. Kirby aimed to create a production design that paid homage to the visual language of the first film while taking it up a notch in terms of production value. Kirby approached the design process with the goal of exploring the vast scope of possibilities within the established platform of the first film. This involved starting in the “war room,” a studio space covered in inspiration, photo references, colors, and concepts, as well as established images from the previous film. By breaking down the design section by section with Sandberg, Kirby was able to show how the look would develop across the various spaces in the film. While the established look was maintained, Kirby ensured that the set would age appropriately. The space maintained its dark gray appearance, but Kirby added basalt—a stone texture inspired by the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland—for added drama. However, the present appearance diverges from the established look in other ways.

The Rock of Eternity, once home to the Council of Wizards, has been transformed into a secret clubhouse exclusively for kids. No adults are allowed in this space, which has shed its intimidating wizardly ambiance and now has more of a “kids left home alone” vibe. The area is littered with empty pizza boxes, candy wrappers, video games, a run-down couch, and a pinball machine. According to production designer Paul Kirby, the design needed to exhibit the kids’ personalities and add some color to the established dark grey background. For example, Kirby added goofy decorations to the previously established Seven Deadly Sins statues and painted descriptors like “does not suck” signs to The Room of Doors. Kirby wanted the space to be fun but not excessively silly, giving teenagers a chance to decorate the area as they would like to see it.

The production design team’s imaginative interpretation of the initial inspiration by Kirby and his team impressed Morgan. According to her, the initial draft was hilarious and exemplified Henry’s voice perfectly. She claims that the ultimate wish-fulfillment for teenagers suddenly in charge of an ancient place was brought to life by the production design team’s creativity. It was a perfect example of creative collaboration between writers, directors, producers, and other talented craftsmen who turn words on paper into real objects. Grazer and Currey both found the environment amazing and full of everything a child could dream of, with candy everywhere, comic books, and a cozy bean bag chair that Mary frequents.

The base color and aged texture of The Rock of Eternity provided a seamless transition to The God Realm, a desolate world devoid of life, color, and magic. At the forefront is the Tree of Life, with willowy shape and spider-like branches and roots. Paul Kirby showcases the tree’s dual aspect, at times foreboding, while at other times it saves lives. Hope still exists in this world. The Temple of the Gods, perched atop Mount Othrys, dominates the landscape. Inspired by the ancient city of Petra in southern Jordan, the temple’s exterior has a muted sandstone color with a smoky ash layer, and the flaming torches and bronze statue of Atlas give it a warm and cool look. The set has a faded grandeur, with a heavy layer of sooty ash adding to the effect. The three thrones are the centerpiece of the set, designed to have an organic shape that appears both regal and sinister, as if hooded guards had carved them out of the rock. Thrones have appeared in many films, so Kirby wanted them to have a unique look.