After ages of hearing few details, all engines are a go on Warner Bros. DC film, Shazam The past month or so has seen a lot of movement on the project with the announcements that Zachary Levi will play Shazam (or Captain Marvel, for purists), while his alter ego, Billy Batson, will be played by Asher Angel. The character is interesting in that he is not simply hiding behind a mask, but is actually a kid who transforms into the World's Mightiest Mortal. Now the actors who will be portraying the titular hero and his younger counterpart have finally met thanks to crossing paths at the Justice League premiere. Check it out.
Looking at the above Twitter post, I can buy that Zachary Levi is a magically-enhanced, grown-up version of Asher Angel. Seeing them together, you can also see why they were cast to play the dual Shazam identities. This must have been a blast for the young Disney Channel star and the avowed fanboy. Hopefully they liked Justice League and are excited to be a part of the cinematic universe that their characters will play a huge part in.
Zachary Levi, perhaps best known for his role in TV's Chuck, was last seen on the other side of the comic book pond as Fandral in Thor: Ragnarok. He no doubt will be excited to take center stage in a comic book film after being underutilized in that series. Asher Angel doesn't have nearly as many credits to his name, but he is best known for his work on the Disney Channel series Andi Mack.
Shazam is one of DC comic's most powerful characters (just read Kingdom Come for proof), and he is expected to be a huge part DC's updated film slate. Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation director David F. Sandberg, will helm the film. In addition to Asher Angel and Zachary Levi, Grace Futon is in talks for an unspecified role, and former Sinestro actor Mark Strong is in discussions to join the film as the main antagonist, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Although they won't face off in Shazam, the mighty mortal will eventually cross paths with Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam, who is getting his own film after reportedly debuting in Suicide Squad 2.
Shazam! is currently aiming for an April 2019 release date, following a few months after Aquaman. Until then, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Shazam, including what other characters will appear in the movie and specific story details. Don't forget to pre-order your tickets for opening weekend of the next DC film, this weekend's Justice League.
