How Shazam! Fury Of The Gods Can Introduce Tawky Tawny
It's always a convention highlight when an actor or creator gets caught off-guard by a well-crafted question and accidentally tips their hat, revealing a potential spoiler. During the second day of DC's virtual DC FanDome convention, held on September 12, one such moment occurred when Shazam star Zachary Levi fielded a question about a potential Tawky Tawny appearance in Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
During the all-too-brief FanDome Shazam! Q&A, one fan asked Levi directly if there were any plans to include Tawky Tawny in the new movie. Levi pauses before answering, a wry smile spreading across his face, and answers, "I ... hope so [smiles]. I think it would be awesome to have a talking tiger buddy alongside me in my adventures."
Normally we wouldn't read too much into Levi's squirrelly response, but director David F. Sandberg also allowed a little ambiguity about the potential villain "or villains" that Shazam will face in the new flick. Taken in concert, these two almost-admissions open up an interesting possible path to introduce Tawky Tawny. Roar!
What if Tawky Tawny is animated to join the fight against Blaze?
Tawky Tawny's introduction in the New 52 comics provides some interesting source material that might help Sandberg introduce everyone's favorite loquacious big cat to the cinematic milieu. In the comics, Tawky Tawny starts out as a mundane plush doll. Lord Satanus animates the plushy and grants him sentience so he can assist the Marvel Family in their struggle against Blaze.
Is it possible that Sandberg and co. will adapt elements from this origin story to set Billy, Mary and Dudley against Blaze? The suggestion that we'll be seeing more than one villain this time around certainly leaves the door open for just such an adaptation. For now, this is all just speculation, but something tells us there's more to be divined from Zachary Levi's knowing smirk.
Move over, Joe Exotic. Here's hoping Shazam! Fury of the Gods brings us the real Tiger King.