A Shazam Star Turned Down Euphoria For The DC Movie
Shazam's Jack Dylan Grazer says he turned down the role of Ashtray in Euphoria in order to join DC.
With prominent roles in hit movies like It and the DC feature Shazam, Jack Dylan Grazer is rapidly making a name for himself in Hollywood. Of course, being one of the fastest upcoming performers in the industry means the young and talented actor can’t possibly accept all the movie roles that are thrown his way. During a recent interview for Zack Sang Show, the 19-year-old star revealed that he was forced to choose between taking on a role in the hit television series Euphoria and the part of Freddy Freeman in Shazam.
Considering he reprises his role as Billy Batson’s witty best friend in the sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Jack Dylan Grazer clearly ended up passing on the Euphoria offer to be a part of the DC Universe. He said, “I had to make this Ashtray on Euphoria. I didn’t do it because I did Shazam, and I’m so happy about it.”
We agree with the Saturn Award nominee in that he made the right decision in accepting the role of Billy Batson’s snappy best friend Freddy in the Shazam franchise. After all, the character of Ashtray (played by Javon Walton) met a tragic demise during the final moments of the Euphoria Season 2 finale. Unlike Ashtray, Jack Dylan Grazer joked that “Freddie Freeman will never die!”
Shazam 2 is now playing in theaters around the world. In addition to Jack Dylan Grazer, the sequel stars Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, and Ian Chen. The film follows Billy Batson, who faces off against a new villainous threat with his superpowers and the help of his foster family.
The sequel, which arrived on the big screen on March 17, has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, Shazam 2 has a rotten score of 53 percent from professional critics via 174 reviews. Fortunately, everyday viewers seemed to enjoy the titular character’s second outing, as it currently has a score of 87 percent from audiences.
At this time, it’s still unclear whether or not Shazam will be a part of the DC Universe going forward. The character was nowhere to be found when DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran unveiled their upcoming slate of projects. Nevertheless, should a third installment happen, it’s probably safe to say that stars like Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, and Jack Dylan Grazer would jump at the opportunity to reprise their respective roles in the film.
Of course, if Shazam 2 is the final entry in the DC film series, Jack Dylan Grazer may be hitting himself on the head for passing on the chance to star in Euphoria. Although his Shazam character isn’t technically dead, his fate would be just as tragic as Ashtray’s should the superhero franchise cease to continue. Only time will tell if we’ll get to hear Asher Angel’s Billy Batson shout “Shazam!” in a third movie.
Following his role in Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Jack Dylan Grazer will next appear in the forthcoming The Spiderwick Chronicles series for Netflix. Grazer will voice the character Thimbletack on the show, which follows the Grace Family, as they move into their ancestral home and get wrapped up in a mystery about their great-great Uncle. The Kathleen Shugrue-created series is expected to premiere later this year.
