The new SHAZAM! trailer is here, and it begs the question, why so serious? Compared to DC's past projects, this upcoming comic book adaptation looks relatively on the light side, which is a welcome change of pace for a comic book publishing company whose identity has become swallowed up in Christopher Nolan's broody atmosphere. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe THE DARK KNIGHT is one of — if not the best — comic book movie ever made. However, just being the gloom and doom approach works for one filmmaker in the company doesn't mean that it's going to be as effective for every director who follows suit. So, in a way, it's just nice to see something different. Maybe the guys at DC are finally learning a thing or two from Marvel's mega success.
Here's the official plot synopsis for SHAZAM!
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson's (Asher Angel) case, by shouting only one word — SHAZAM! — this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Zachary Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou). Still a kid at heart — inside a ripped, godlike body — Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).
Headed by Zachary Levi as the protector of Fawcett city himself, the cast for SHAZAM! includes Michelle Borth, Mark Strong, Djimon Hounsou, Jack Dylan Grazer, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Natalia Safran, Asher Angel, Grace Fulton, D.J. Cotrona, Lovina Yavari, Ian Chen, Marta Milans, and Cooper Andrews.
SHAZAM! strikes its way into theaters on April 5th, 2019.