Casting on Warner Bros.' pending Shazam has been rolling along, as the film is in production and aiming for a 2019 release. Chuck star Zachary Levi earned the title role of the DC superhero, and it has been reported that Mark Strong is up for the villainous role of Doctor Sivana. Now we know who is down to play Billy Batson, the young boy who transitions into Shazam: Disney Channel star Asher Angel.
Billy Batson, according to DC Comics lore, is the young boy who is granted the power to turn into a hulking superhero just by shouting the word "Shazam!" Billy receives this power from a wizard, and is able to wield the power of lightning as a result of his gift. It also explains why Shazam carries a child-like exuberance when crime fighting, and we always assumed that Zachary Levi's Shazam would be a stand in for a child actor cast as Billy. Now we can confirm that DC is going to take that route with their origin-story movie.
Who is Asher Angel, the young actor confirmed by THR to be playing Billy Batson in the DCEU? He's a relative newcomer, having starred in two seasons of the Disney Channel's television show Andi Mack. Prior to that, Asher Angel appeared on episodes of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, and the mouthful Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. Shazam will be his first major role. I wonder how many movies they have signed him on to do?
Moving forward, we have bene hearing that DCEU movies will operate as standalone solo films, with stories that don't really have to contribute to a larger narrative (like the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe). After Justice League drops in theaters this month -- and the core members of the Justice League take down Steppenwolf -- the DCEU shifts to Aquaman, James Wan's film that stars Jason Momoa and Amber Heard in an underseas adventure. That movie doesn't drop in theaters until December 2018, though, with Shazam following up April 5, 2019. Annabelle: Creation's David F. Sandberg is down to direct.
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