Oscar-winner and national treasure Helen Mirren is no stranger to playing powerful figures like the Queen and Catherine the Great – but as well as playing grand characters that match her sophisticated demeanour, it’s never stopped her from also getting mixed up in big blockbuster absurdity. In recent years she’s popped up as Jason Statham’s wickedly tough mother in the Fast & Furiousmovies, orchestrated shootouts in RED and its sequel, and, er, voiced a poodle named Snickers in Disney’s The One and Only Ivan. Next up, she’s joining the DCEU, playing the villain in Shazam sequel Fury Of The Gods.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mirren will be Billy Batson’s new nemesis, Hespera – a daughter of Greek god Atlas. For those not up to speed with their Greek Mythology (we know, there is a lot to take in), Atlas was the titan who was condemned by Zeus to carry the heavens on his shoulders. Hespera does not come from the DC comics, so how she will factor into the story remains to be seen, but we do know that fellow franchise newcomer Rachel Zegler has also been cast as another of Atlas’ daughters.
Fury Of The Gods is bringing back the filmmaking team from the previous instalment, with director David F. Sandberg, writer Henry Gayden and producer Peter Safran all returning. The main cast are also reprising their roles with Zachary Levi returning as Shazam, Asher Angel back as Billy Batson, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy and Adam Brody as his powered-up vigilante alter-ego. The sequel is due to arrive in summer 2023 – before then, we will get to see the upcoming Black Adam film starring Dwayne Johnson as the black sheep of the Shazam family. The anti-hero story that spins out of Shazam’s corner of the DCEU is scheduled to be released on December 22, 2021.
Although it may be some time until we see Helen Mirren playing a kick-ass god (little acting required here), there are many other exciting things on Mirren’s agenda to look out for – including her upcoming role as Peg in the anthology series Solos, and returning as Queen in Fast & Furious 9.