Zachary Levi graces the cover of EW’s Comic-Con issue as SHAZAM!

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

There's no doubt about it, Zachary Levi is positively amped to be playing the 14-year-old kid turned superhero for DC's SHAZAM! How do I know? For starters, the CHUCK alum has been quite vocal about his excitement via social media as well as a series of interviews, over the past few weeks. Furthermore, it's written all over his charming face, as evidenced by the cover of Entertainment Weekly's Free Comic-Con issue! "It’s Superman meets Big,” says Levi of the upcoming big screen comic book adventure. In the film, an ordinary kid named Billy Batson is granted the ability to transform into a grown-up superhero able to wield a host of magnificent powers by shouting a single world (“Shazam!”) and then return to his regular self whenever the action gets too hot.

Recently, Levi asked EW if he could appear on the cover of their latest Comic-Con-related issue, and the outlet was more than happy to oblige DC's newest and most fanciful hero.

Here's a look at the new cover:

In addition to gracing the cover, Levi also sat down for an interview with EW to talk all about his excitement to introduce SHAZAM! to the world like they've never seen him before.

“It’s complete wish-fulfillment — if you scour all of DC and Marvel there are very few characters that are actually stoked to be a superhero,” Levi said, excitedly. “They’re not brooding, they’re not put out, like ‘Oh dammit, I gotta save the world again!’ Billy Batson is like Peter Parker, they’re thrilled to have these powers and can’t wait to try them out.” My, oh my, doesn't that sound refreshing?

In continuing their talk, Levi also touched on the prep needed for fitting into the character's fire engine red suit, saying that “It fits me like a glove, because it is a f—ing glove,” Levi jokes. “It’s super tight, but it’s great. I look and feel like this jacked superhero.” Heh, the costume is indeed snug. In fact, I bet Levi's codpiece would give David Bowie's Jareth of the movie LABYRINTH a run for his money. Nevertheless, Levi looks spot-on as the eager and excitable hero.

“From my perspective, Shazam! represents the next step in the evolution of the DC brand,” producer Peter Safran remarked. “You had Wonder Woman, then Aquaman is another big step, then comes Shazam! — all different movies, but all have a unique tone that moves away from the darkness of the prior DC movies.” Between AQUAMAN and SHAZAM!, it sounds as if DC is looking to shed a light on the dark of their cinematic universe in the movies to come, which should serve as a welcomed change to many.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more news related to SHAZAM! as San Diego Comic-Con weekend heats up. In the meantime, David F. Sandberg's SHAZAM! starring Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, and Djimon Hounsou will arrive in theaters on April 5th.