The superhero movie that has Zachary Levi on board to play the titular character will arrive in spring 2019.
- Jan 13, 2018
AceShowbiz - Warner Bros.-DC Entertainment's "Shazam!" has got a release date. The studio had reserved April 5, 2019 for a DC film and it's announced that the movie will actually be the superhero film, which has Zachary Levi on board to play the titular character. Currently, there's no strong competition for "Shazam!" in that month with Paramount's "Pet Sematary" set to open a week after the DC movie.
WB had previously also booked a July 27, 2018 release date for an untitled DC movie, but the studio has announced that the project is now off the calendar.
"Shazam!" centers on DC Comics character Billy Batson (Levi) who becomes Captain Marvel, the world's mightiest mortal, when he says the magic word "Shazam!" The name is an acronym for six gods and heroes of the ancient world as well as their attributes. The wisdom of Solomon, strength of Hercules, stamina of Atlas, power of Zeus, courage of Achilles and speed of Mercury.
Mark Strong is in talks to join the cast as the film's main baddie, Grace Fulton is set to play Mary, Jack Dylan Grazer will portray Freddy Freeman, Ian Chen will star as Eugene Choi, Jovan Armand takes on the role of Pedro Pena, Asher Angel is cast as young Billy Batson, and Cooper Andrews will reportedly play the foster parent at the group home where Billy Batson lives.
Filming is expected to start next month with David F. Sandberg serving behind the lens. Darren Lemke and Henry Gayden provide the screenplay. Peter Safran is producing. The movie is being developed by New Line, not the proper Warner Bros. like other DC films such as "Justice League".
Though so, it is reported that the story will still be a part of the shared universe first established in "Man of Steel". Zachary Levi recently expressed his wish to have a Wonder Woman cameo in the movie. "I think getting a cameo from anybody would be super cool, but I just think Gal Gadot is so effervescent. She has such a charm. And she seems like a really cool broad. Like, she was in the Israeli army. She's a mom," he gushed.
DC is also developing a movie centering on Shazam's villain Black Adam, with wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson attached to play the lead character.
