Be sure to check out our live stream reaction to SHAZAM! and the rest of the WB panel here, shortly after the panel comes to a close.
With the MCU not having much of a presence at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it’s given DC Entertainment an opportunity to go big or go home with regard to previewing their slate of upcoming superhero films. Before getting a solid look at James Wan’s AQUAMAN starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, and Willem Dafoe, among others, the House that Superman built offered fans a taste of what’s to come for David F. Sandberg’s SHAZAM!
The film finds a young man by the name of Billy Batson (Asher Angel) being assigned to a new foster home where he befriends a comic book superfan by the name of Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer). Later, after Billy's subway ride is interrupted by a mysterious Wizard (Djimon Hounsou) who has been searching for ages to find the right successor to inherit his powers, he reveals that Billy has been chosen to gain an assortment of abilities, and all it takes is for Billy to say the word “SHAZAM!”
The upcoming comic book adventure stars Zachary Levi (TV’s CHUCK) as the adult superhero SHAZAM! When he arrives, looking affable and energetic in his fire engine red suit complete with a glowing lightning bolt, he’ll be made to square off against Mark Strong’s villainous Dr. Thadedues Sivana.
In the time leading up to the film’s production, Sandberg has stated that he aims to create a DC film that is “very funny, but won’t rely on quippy one-liners.” Sandberg then added, "The important thing for me, is to mix the funny with a threat that's serious and to also have dramatic moments. All funny all the time takes the weight out of it."
I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Sandberg, and I’m sure that lots of fans of the character appreciate you taking this approach with a character as legendary as SHAZAM! After all, if DC really does have plans to course-correct their universe, adding a bit of light-hearted humor and humanity would be a great start.
Here’s the official 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 (Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. 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 (Strong).
SHAZAM! Will is scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 5, 2019.