The DCEU has gained a whole lot of confidence after Wonder Woman was a massive blockbuster and provided a launch-pad that they needed after Man of Steel and Batman v Superman got mixed reviews. Justice League could have taken the DCU to great heights, but it fell short of the expectations.
After Justice League, WB has set up a list of movies that are under production and will hit the big screens in the next few years. The next movie that is under production is Aquaman (December 2018). Then we have got 3 movies for 2019 release, and they are SHAZAM, The Batman and Wonder Woman 2.
The director of Shazam Sandberg had teased his fans about the impending superhero feature. The director reached out to Henry Gayden and praised his “latest draft” of ‘Shazam’.
The script starts with a Red and Blue blur in the sky. That is none other than the Man of Steel. Billy Batson is not impressed with Superman and exclaims, “Oh, is dis bitch. Hold my beer Tawny.”
Tawny is a dapper looking Tiger who is a character of Shazam in the comic books.
Billy then transforms into Shazam and asks Supes if he is “back for another whoopin’” and Clark declines. The script says that Superman “quickly puts on a pair of glasses like a bitch,” and makes Shazam lose sight of him.
It has been announced that ‘Chuck’ star Zachary Levi will star in SHAZAM! and play Billy Batson (SHAZAM). He will don the red suit and white lightning bolt.
But it Shazam will not be alone in the fight against the bad buys. David F. Sandberg had taken to Instagram and posted a video that made the fans wonder if Batman will appear. The video was from DC Animated project that featured Billy Batson who is unconscious, Batman approaches him and Billy wakes up and transforms into Shazam, and the video cuts to Bruce Wayne waking up from a dream sequence that had appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Billy Batson is a young boy who can transform into an adult Superhero and has lightning and mystical powers.
This happens when he says the word ‘Shazam!’ Shazam is a combination that represents 6 mythical figures who grant the powers to Billy Batson- Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.
Zach Levi is a capable actor and has what it requires to be SHAZAM in a movie which will be light-hearted and different from the other superhero movies.
Levi is not new to comic book roles and we saw him in Thor: The Dark World as Fandral. This makes him the 4th actor to have a role in MCU and the DC Films Universe.
According to THR, Mark Strong is currently in talks with the studio to play the villain, Dr.Sivana who is the most dangerous villain in the Shazam comics. He forayed into superhero movies as he was Sinestro in 2011’s Green Lantern which bombed at the box-office.
Dr.Sivana made his comic-book debut in 1940’s Whiz Comics #2. He was born in Europe in 1800’s and became the world’s most amazing minds. He had a hunger for invention and discovery. He decided to avenge the personal humiliation from the people of Earth and held it to ransom by holding back the world’s communications.
This will be David F. Sandberg’s first action superhero flick. He had made Annabelle: Creation and Lights Out and they turned out to be box office success for WB. He has a huge opportunity to give us a story about a superhero who is not popular.
An interesting thing about Billy Batson is that he was not Shazam and was known as “Captain Marvel”.
Marvel then sensed an opportunity and created their Captain Marvel. When DC bought the rights to the original in 1970’s, they could not release comics under that name. Then DC went with the magic word “Shazam” and avoided confusion.
There will be 2 Captain Marvel movies releasing in 2019, one from DCEU and one from Marvel. It will be better for DCU to go the New 52 route and call him Shazam.
But there are no limitations on DCEU to go with original name as Marvel rights are complicated. Levi said that he was excited to be “bringing the original Captain Marvel to life”. In fact, James Gunn (Director, GOTG Vol. 1, 2) agreed with Levi’s statement.
