Shazam!

[Hypo]

Production Starts on New Line Cinema’s Magical Super Hero Action Adventure “Shazam!”

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Production is underway on New Line Cinema’s “Shazam!” David F. Sandberg (“Annabelle: Creation”) directs the origin story, which stars Zachary Levi (TV’s “Chuck”) as the titular DC Super Hero, along with Asher Angel (TV’s “Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson, and Mark Strong (the “Kingsman” movies) in the role of Super-Villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Peter Safran (upcoming “Aquaman,” “The Conjuring” and “Annabelle” films) serves as the film’s producer.

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!” also stars Jack Dylan Grazer (“IT”) as Billy’s best friend and ultimate superhero enthusiast, Freddy, part of the foster family that includes Mary, played by Grace Fulton (“Annabelle: Creation”); Darla, played by Faithe Herman (TV’s “This is Us”); Eugene, played by Ian Chen (TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat”); and Pedro, played by Jovan Armand (TV’s “Hawaii Five-O”). Cooper Andrews (TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Marta Milans (TV’s “Killer Women”) play foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with Ron Cephas Jones (“This is Us”) as the Wizard.

Christopher Godsick, Jeffrey Chernov, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia are serving as executive producers.

Sandberg’s creative team includes his “Annabelle: Creation” director of photography Maxime Alexandre, production designer Jennifer Spence, editor Michel Aller and costume designer Leah Butler.

Set primarily in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, principal photography for the film is taking place in Toronto.

Firmly set in the DC universe but with his own distinctly fun, family-centric tone, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics in 1940 and was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck.

A New Line Cinema production, “Shazam!” is set for release on April 5, 2019. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

[Space Cop]

I hate when Shazam is his magic word and his name.

[Mister Ed]

I just hope that the use of the word "streetwise" doesn't mean Billy is going to be the more cynical, obnoxious version foisted on us in recent years. That'll turn me off the movie REAL fast.

[Mister Ed]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

I hate when Shazam is his magic word and his name.

Yeah. He can't even tell people who he is without transforming.

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

I just hope that the use of the word "streetwise" doesn't mean Billy is going to be the more cynical, obnoxious version foisted on us in recent years. That'll turn me off the movie REAL fast.

Yeah, I hate those buzzwords. They always make it sound like "street-wise" or "sassy" are still provocative, but the opposite is so rare in cinema that it would be the only surprise. When is the last time a Hollywood movie was allowed to use the terms "innocent," "old-fashioned," or "quaint" as positive character traits to expect in a movie?

[IonFan]

Originally Posted by Space Cop

I hate when Shazam is his magic word and his name.

i for one am ok with this, i've never called him CM

[Sylent_Asassin]

Hopefully, Billy Batson is the "Golly gee willikers" version and not the juvenile delinquent criminal from the NU52. The latter version is extremely hard to root for and doesn't deserve his powers.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

He'll always be Captain Marvel to me.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

Originally Posted by Sylent_Asassin

Hopefully, Billy Batson is the "Golly gee willikers" version and not the juvenile delinquent criminal from the NU52. The latter version is extremely hard to root for and doesn't deserve his powers.

Agreed. Cap is all about innocence, wonder, whimsy, and good nature. I will have nothing to do with anything resembling a smart ass, hip, kewl Billy Batson. That just misses the point.

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Sylent_Asassin

Hopefully, Billy Batson is the "Golly gee willikers" version and not the juvenile delinquent criminal from the NU52. The latter version is extremely hard to root for and doesn't deserve his powers.

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Dave Skywalker

Agreed. Cap is all about innocence, wonder, whimsy, and good nature. I will have nothing to do with anything resembling a smart ass, hip, kewl Billy Batson. That just misses the point.

I'm sure TPTB in Hollywood consider modern audiences too sophisticated for that Billy, but there's no reason they can't do it. If it comes off as corny or campy, then sell the camp.

[Darth_Primus]

Ya know, when I remember watching the old "Shazam!" TV show when I was a kid and I thought Billy Batson was a man. I never saw him as a kid.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

I know it would never sell, but I always wanted to see a Captain Marvel movie done as a period piece, set in the late 1930s. It's a time when many of the elements of Cap/Billy's backstory work and are believable. Him being an orphan who gets by with a job selling newspapers would never be allowed to happen today. Or later working at the radio station while still being on his own. There is a lot of Billy's story that immediately makes him sympathetic to readers, the kid is shit on constantly and STILL tries to be a good person and do the right thing.

[Hypo]

[Mister Ed]

Are those his real muscles or is that suit padded? Because it LOOKS padded to me, even if those ARE his real muscles. Maybe it will look different in motion instead of still frames.

I like the look overall, though.

[Mister.Weirdo]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

Are those his real muscles or is that suit padded? Because it LOOKS padded to me, even if those ARE his real muscles. Maybe it will look different in motion instead of still frames.

I like the look overall, though.

They'll change in post-production, they always do that.

Costume looks great BTW. Looks like it came straight out of a comic.

[Ωmega Man]

I like it for the most part. Takes too much from the New52 look though. Remember when Billy first got a hood in his white clad Marvel alias when Freddy became CM? That white suit... just in red... would've been PERFECT. It got rid of the pirate boots but still kept the classic look...

EDIT: It's a plus that the director knows what hair dye is.

~//V\\~

[Hypo]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

Are those his real muscles or is that suit padded? Because it LOOKS padded to me, even if those ARE his real muscles. Maybe it will look different in motion instead of still frames.

I like the look overall, though.

Probably a combination of both, every suit is padded these days. Given that these are just set photos and not even PR shots I'm sure the suit will look better in the movie.

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

That costume is as close to perfect as we were ever going to get. I am actually pleasantly surprised it's as faithful as it is. I love it.

[Deadpool]

The hood looks a bit awkward, but that'll hopefully look neater on screen. The bright yellow logo and bits on the arm band I'm pretty sure will be CGI'd to look more...lightup, seems a bit too much of a flat neon yellow for them to actually go in the final movie. The suit's texture looks very reminiscent of the DCEU Superman costume in particular, the costume strikes me as fairly similar to that overall, but for Captain Marvel instead of Superman. Overall a nice looking costume, will be interesting to see how it looks on film. Not a giant Captain Marvel fan so I don't know what my thoughts on the general film etc. are, but I'd concur with those of you on here who said a period film would be better, for a start it'd help it stand out, and with the success of Wonder Woman I think a lot of us want to see more period superhero films, I always thought a Superman film set in the 30s/40s would work well. Seeing the costume looks so modern though, I doubt it'll be period...

[Space Cop]

Originally Posted by Deadpool

...I always thought a Superman film set in the 30s/40s would work well. Seeing the costume looks so modern though, I doubt it'll be period...

DC/WB will never do it, but a depression-era Superman with his correspondent power levels could be really fun.

[IonFan]

+ YouTube Video

i........................... agree with some of this

[Tazer]

Yo.






Tazer

[Hypo]

[Big Daddy Dave Skywalker]

I'm digging that costume. I hear people complain about it, but to me it seems more like a modernized version of the comic one for film. Its pretty much what I would expect with no going off the rails with lame armor plating, nipples, or jagged pieces.

[Space Cop]

^Agreed. There may be many problems with this yet, but the costume doesn't seem to be one of them. The drink makes the Captain look childish too, so hopefully that does come across in the movie.