New Line Cinema has confirmed today via Business Wire that filming is underway on “Shazam!,” the magical superhero action adventure from “Annabelle: Creation” and “Lights Out” director David F. Sandberg. Zachary Levi (“Chuck,” “Thor: Ragnarok”) will star as the titular character alongside Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as the young Billy Batson. After months of rumors, Mark Strong is indeed playing the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.
Billy’s foster family will appear with Jack Dylan Grazer (“It”) as Freddy, Grace Fulton (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary (is Mary Marvel in the cards?), Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla, Ian Chen (“Fresh Off The Boat”) as Eugene, and Jovan Armand (“Hawaii Five-O”) as Pedro. Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) and Marta Milans (“Killer Women”) will feature as Billy’s foster parents, Victor and Rosa Vasquez, while Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us) will play the Wizard.
Dwayne Johnson, who is attached to play “Black Adam” at some point in the DC Films Universe, will serve as an executive producer. His involvement could mean “Shazam!” has more to do with the upcoming “Black Adam” movie than we were lead to believe.
Read the full press release below!
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 Allerand 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.
“Shazam!” hits theaters on April 5, 2019. Are you excited to see how the film comes together? Sound off in the comments!
