Warner Bros. Pictures’ Shazam 2 is being dunked on by Evil Dead Rise‘s executive producer Bruce Campbell – which is also a title distributed by WB’s New Line division. The Ash vs. Evil Dead star mocked Fury of the Gods’ poor audience turnout in theaters. Surprisingly, the video of Campbell roasting the DC film sequel only came to fans’ notice after director David F. Sandberg shared the clip.
Shazam 2 is expected to be the worst box office performance by a DCEU movie with the sequel expected to conclude its theatrical run with a earning of $145M-$155M globally. The Zachary Levi starrer second installment has crossed the $100 million milestone and while it may barely break even, it’s unclear if the movie could enter a profit margin.
Unfortunately for David F. Sandberg, Shazam! Fury of the Gods has become a target in recent weeks and has even fallen on Campbell’s radar. In a video shared by the Lights Out director, The 64-year-old star appears to be at an Evil Dead Rise screening and is interacting with the audience.
Bruce Campbell addresses the attendees by asking, “Did you see the movie Shazam, with the guy Zachary. Yeah (chuckles), neither did anyone else.” Sandberg tweeted it with a side-by-side comparision of Doctor Strange 2’s Sam Raimi praising 2019’s Shazam at a press junket for Multiverse of Madness, “How it started vs How it’s going”.
David F. Sandberg thinks Bruce Campbell’s comment is funny
The roast comment by Bruce Campbell was seen as unnecessary and downright hurtful by many fans. Though some Evil Dead stans also pointed out that Campbell is known for his witty jests since his early career and might not have meant it in a mean-spirited manner. Moreover, director David F. Sandberg also seems to find it funny. Readers can check it out below.
How it started vs How itβs going
Evil Dead edition π pic.twitter.com/GV8erm8luv— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) March 30, 2023
I thought it was funny π€·ββοΈ
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) March 31, 2023
thatβs so disrespectful, holy shit man https://t.co/SOWuOCaqY2
— suls (@dkmsully) March 30, 2023
This feels like a weird shitty move by Bruce Campbell??… https://t.co/bSe0Z7P1bT
— Jon Bridges πΏ (@jonnbridges) March 30, 2023
It's always funny to mean when people, whether their fans, or clueless folks, get super upset over wisecracks by Bruce.
It's a shtick folks. He's been jokingly acting like a smartass at conventions since the early 90s Don't take comments to heart π€·πΎββοΈ https://t.co/hovy4nbP8f
— Kris With a K (@Chainsaw_Master) March 30, 2023
Bruce movie evil dead rise produced by same studio who produced shazam. I don't understand why BRUCE say that. https://t.co/Vup5YKkEgZ
— Batman and King Shark Stan (@Faraz39011590) March 30, 2023
OH WOW…. also aren't both under the same company???? π https://t.co/KeAnBwMVXY
— π©β₯οΈπͺ (@SIM0NJESS) March 30, 2023
YOU DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS DAVID ππ https://t.co/hBfAmH1K9p
— CanWeGetSomeToast (@CanWeGetToast) March 30, 2023
As much as Sandberg is posting this for comedic self-deprecation, that's still a dick move by Bruce Campbell. Damn. π¬ https://t.co/so1I7iNrsh
— TheFliteCast (@TheFliteCast) March 31, 2023
I really dislike how it's open season to shit on superhero movies lately,I think it's a good thing he's taking a break/leaving it for now,it's all about punching down https://t.co/mW5tNccT3k
— Turtle π± (@HYHussein7) March 30, 2023
David F. Sandberg and the entire cast and crew of Shazam Fury of the Gods doesnβt deserve this. https://t.co/BnMiXWIDvw
— Kevin (@KevinTalks12) March 30, 2023
Bruce Campbell is so real for this https://t.co/r4PXLWh89f
— Jβsef (@Slither2006) March 30, 2023
Very cool that Sam Raimi loves Shazam so much. Bruce Campbell being a dick is low rent. But thatβs kinda his personality. https://t.co/5p6feOOlFY
— Frank (@FrankoLuvs) March 30, 2023
I'm so disappointed by Bruce man π https://t.co/Gkxh9V8l2J
— π§ββοΈ (@radicalsebas_) March 30, 2023
Bruce Campbell the goat https://t.co/Fe04WE7evv
— Spence | RE4R Era (@NerdySpencey) March 30, 2023
bruce campbell W https://t.co/q04jZuOqr2
— chaz (@chrlieeb) March 30, 2023
I blame wbπ€· David would do great in the original dceu. Sadly Geoff Johns happened https://t.co/zmho1pC94W
— _Wayne/π±ππππ π°π‘π (@WayneHellblaz3r) March 30, 2023
Kinda lame from Bruce Campbell here https://t.co/T7pD41Ip9P
— Yusuf π‘ππ£ (@Yuey_J4) March 30, 2023
The way WB setup these good ppl dor a hard time in unconscionable https://t.co/Yg6Z1krHih
— The Illimitable Lupe (@LongLiveLupe) March 30, 2023
Bruce was definitely in the wrong on this. I get itβs meant to be just a joke, but people did still work hard on this and he of all people should know that π https://t.co/IiZgSGjd01
— Horizon (@Captainhorizon7) March 30, 2023
Bruce Campbell got you good lmfaooo https://t.co/gznxNM3A44
— channel zero stan account (@bert15100) March 30, 2023
Earlier this week,Β Zachary Levi was also mocked by Anson Mount over a video edited out of context which portrays the actor critiquing John Wick 4. But Fury of the Gods’ lead star was rather calling out critics for their harsh reviews, like the Rotten RT score. Speaking of, Evil Dead Rise has an impressive 96% score out of 25 reviews as of this writing.
Campbell also faced a similar dunk-on moment during Evil Dead: Rise’s screening at SXSW. An audience member heckled βThis movie fu*king sucks!β but Campbell was quick to shut down his comment, a moment that was praised heavily on the internet.
Evil Dead Rise lands in theaters on April 21, 2023.
