DC seems determined not to rest on their ‘Snyder Cut’ laurels.

Less than a week after the release of the long-awaited alternate version of Justice League movie, the studio issued casting or production announcements for three of their magical – if lesser-known – properties. Two of Hollywood’s hottest older celebs were tapped for major roles in the Shazam sequel and the Black Adam movie, and an Oscar-nominated director was signed to write the Zatanna movie.

From super-spy to sorcerer: Pierce Brosnan joins the DC Universe for the first superhero movie role of his career. Brosnan will portray Dr. Fate opposite Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam, New Line’s action-adventure project featuring the DC Comics antihero.

Brosnan will play Kent Nelson, aka Dr. Fate, a son of an archeologist who was taught sorcery skills and given the magical Helmet of Fate. The character, created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman, is one of DC’s oldest characters, having first appeared in 1940’s More Fun Comics #5.

Brosnan is of course known for playing James Bond in movies like Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is Not Enough, in addition to many other suave and sophisticated roles throughout his long career. His casting means that the major roles are all filled for the production that will feature the big-screen debut of the Justice Society, DC’s precursor to the Justice League. The production has already lined up Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone.

Black Adam is the second New Line collaboration with DC, following 2019’s critical and commercial hit Shazam! (More about that movie later.) In the DC Universe, Black Adam and Shazam are major rivals. The Black Adam project is headed towards an April start of production in Atlanta.

A ‘promising young woman’ is set to write about a different kind of vigilante. Emerald Fennell, who received an Oscar nomination for directing Promising Young Woman, has been tapped to write Zatanna, the big-screen adaptation of a story for the DC Comics heroine.

The movie is coming from Warner Bros. and DC Films and is set to be released theatrically. J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot shingle is producing through his overall deal with WarnerMedia.

Fennell’s hiring comes as her feature directorial debut has been the toast of awards season. In addition to the directing honor, the movie has received four other Oscar nods, including best picture, screenplay and actress for Carey Mulligan. The movie has also garnered attention from the Golden Globes, BAFTA, Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild.

The upcoming DC Extended Universe appearance will be Zatanna’s franchise bow, though the character is part of the Justice League. Actress Serinda Swan played Zatanna on later seasons of The CW show Smallville where the character made her live-action debut. The film role of Zatanna has not been cast yet.

Back to Shazam! news: Helen Mirren is joining the DC Extended Universe for Shazam! Fury of the Gods.  Mirren will play the villain Hespera, the daughter of Atlas, in the sequel to 2019’s Shazam! from New Line and Warner Bros. Mirren’s character appears to be invented just for the movie, which leans heavily on Greek mythology for its characters.

Mirren is joined by actor Rachel Zelger, who is set to star in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Sources say Mirren and Zegler will play sisters who both may or may not be foils for the movie’s hero. The Shazam! sequel will also see the return of star Zachary Levi as the adult version of teenager Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who transforms into a superhero. The movie is set to be in theaters in June of 2023.

Mirren’s storied career includes four Oscar noms and one win for 2006’s The Queen. This isn’t her first action movie franchise; she made two films for the comic book series RED and had a role in a couple of The Fast and Furious sequels playing the mother of Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw. Her next roles include a reprise of that role for Universal’s F9 and a starring part in the upcoming Amazon anthology series Solos.