Helen Mirren Set To Play A DC Supervillain
Actress Helen Mirren is about to join DC as this supervillain.
This article is more than 2 years old
The actress Helen Mirren is no stranger to comic book movies, having played the role of retired and extremely dangerous assassin Victoria Winslow in RED and RED 2. This Academy Award-winning actress is now joining the DCEU movie universe in the upcoming sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
According to Deadline, Helen Mirren joins the cast of Shazam 2 and plays the DCEU villain Hespera, the daughter of the titan Atlas from the Greek mythos. However, not much is known about the character Mirren is set to play since it’s purposefully developed for the film and doesn’t originate from DC Comics. We know that the character is based on an actual Greek mythos, which isn’t so surprising given how Greek Gods are very much a thing in the DC comics and DCEU universe.
Hispera’s father, Atlas, did appear in Grant Morrison’s All-Stars Superman, but it’s improbable that he’ll appear in Shazam 2. The plot surrounding Helen Mirren’s Hespera is still unknown, but she will be joining Rachel Zegler’s mystery character. This may indicate the appearance of three villainous sisters named “Nymphs of the West,” suggesting that the sequel continues to explore Greek mythology much as the first movie did.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is a highly- anticipated sequel to the DC’s 2019 movie Shazam!, which follows a kid-at-heart superhero bestowed with godly powers. Upon speaking the words “Shazam!” Billy Batson is struck by the Lightning of the Gods, transforming him into superhero Shazam, his adult alter ego. The superhero is bestowed with Hercules’ strength and Solomon’s wisdom, along with the power of Zeus, the stamina of Atlas, the speed of Mercury, and the courage of Achilles.
While Helen Mirren is new to the world of superhero movies, she isn’t new to blockbuster hits. The first film was an absolute box office hit, and a number one movie worldwide on its opening weekend, earning $53.5 million on its opening night and a total of $366 million worldwide. It received positive reviews from the critics and audience, prompting the discussion about the sequel shortly after the movie’s release, announcing Shazam! Fury of the Gods for April 2022. Unfortunately, the official release date is delayed further to June 2023 due to the ongoing pandemic.
While they are bringing on new additions like Helen Mirren, Warner Bros. and New Line wanted to avoid fixing what isn’t broken and reunited the original filmmaking team responsible for the first movie. David F. Sandberg is returning to the director’s chair, with Peter Safran as producer and Henry Gayden as the screenwriter. The team in front of the camera hasn’t changed either; actors Zachary Levi and Asher Angel playing Shazam and Billy Batson’s parts, respectively.
Helen Mirren, an actress with considerable experience in the industry (54 years on both big and small screens), is the cast’s newest addition. She’s best known for her Academy Award-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, and other notable appearances in titles like The Mosquito Coase, RED, The Good Liar, and Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw. With such an extensive portfolio, she’ll undoubtedly make an excellent DC supervillain.
