Following the first look at the Shazam! movie, fans are finding even more Easter eggs connecting the flick to the greater DC film universe. Now, director David Sandberg has joined in on the action, revealing one that points to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen.
An eagle-eyed fan spotted something from the trailer on the desk of a social worker tending to Asher Angel’s Billy Batson, and Sandberg then confirmed on Twitter it’s indeed tied to The Comedian’s button.
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The fan spotted paraphernalia bearing The Comedian’s signature smiley face, and Sandberg’s response proved it truly was an homage. He posted a blood-splattered variation of the iconic badge — ironically known as The Button — on the desk amid yo-yo’s, little toy paddle balls, bouncy balls and what seems to be a stress ball, all with smiley faces on them.
Of course pic.twitter.com/2jADZpCPx4
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) July 23, 2018
This Watchmen Easter egg is one of several Sandberg left in the trailer, after also revealing on Instagram a close up of a Daily Planet issue declaring “Superman is Back.” This pays tribute to Kal-El’s return in Justice League, while we can also see Easter eggs referencing Wonder Woman and Batman fighting Doomsday in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.
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Apart from these pre-Shazam! nods, the director has also shown us Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer) rocking an Aquaman shirt in the trailer, as well as Billy wearing a Wonder Woman tee in the mall.
Arriving April 5, 2019, director David F. Sandberg’s Shazam! stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Djimon Hounsou as an ancient wizard named Shazam, Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield, Jack Dylan Grazer as Frederick “Freddy” Freeman, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Cooper Andrews as Victor Vásquez and Marta Milans as Rosa Vásquez.