Review Shazam (2019)

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
The “Shazam” Movie Begins Production


shazam-star-compares-dc-film-to-big-696x464.jpg


In a social media posting, filmmaker David F. Sandberg has revealed that production has officially begun on the upcoming “Shazam” feature film at Warner Bros. Pictures.

Asher Angel (Andi Mack) will star in the film as Billy Batson, with Zachary Levi taking on the titular hero and his alter ego. Mark Strong is the villain Doctor Sivana. Ron Cephas Jones, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen and Jovan Armand co-star as Billy’s friends that live in a group home with him.

Other cast members include Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard who gives Billy his powers. Filming is taking place in Vancouver.

“Shazam” will debut in theaters on April 5th 2019.
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
I really hope they get this one right. I've never been a big fan of Shazam as a character, but what I've seen so far about this movie looks intriguing.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Shazam” Press Release Reveals Cast & Story


shazam-production-offers-new-details-696x464.jpg


Though filming has been underway for at least a week, New Line Cinema has only now formally announced the beginning of production on the DC Comics adaptation “Shazam”. What’s news here is that the press release confirms some names, adds some others and reveals a few minor but still interesting elements about the production.

First up, Dwayne Johnson is listed but as an executive producer only, and there’s no mention of Henry Cavill who has previously been rumored to be making a cameo. Next comes the official synopsis which you can read below:

“We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Zachary 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 (Mark Strong).”


Billy’s foster family has also been fully revealed. It will consist of Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy, Grace Fulton as Mary, Faithe Herman as Darla, Ian Chen as Eugene, and Jovan Armand as Pedro. Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans will feature as Billy’s foster parents, Victor and Rosa Vasquez, and Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard.

“Annabelle: Creation” director David F. Sandberg helms the film with a lot of the team behind that movie returning for this. Set primarily in Philadelphia, shooting is taking place in Toronto ahead of an April 2019 release.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
Shazam
Filmmaker David F. Sandberg has confirmed that Zachary Levi’s look as the title hero in the “Shazam” film will be akin to the character’s appearance in “Justice League: War,” a direct-to-DVD animated feature which saw the character donning a white hood and cloak.

He also says once official photos have been released: “I can tell you more about where the inspirations came from and why certain choices were made.” The movie is currently in production ahead of an April 2019 release.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Shazam” Costume Spotted… From The Back?

shazam-costume-spotted-from-the-back-696x464.jpg


A Reddit poster has posted what appears to be the first look at Zachary Levi shooting a scene for the Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films “Shazam” movie in full costume.

However the actor is facing away from the camera for the shot so it’s not fully confirmed if it’s him or a stand in, but Mark Strong being nearby on the left (he plays the film’s villain) suggests it’s Levi. The costume itself seems accurate to both the New 52 comics version and recent descriptions by those who’ve seen it.

The film’s director David Sandberg has hinted that the first official photos of Levi in the outfit are set to be released very soon with Warners essentially holding onto the reveal for as long as they can. The cat may be out of the bag now though.

“Shazam” is in production now ahead of an April 2019 release.
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
I have to say I've never been a big fan of Shazam in the comics (or Captain Marvel as I knew him) but that costume looks exceptionally hokey for a big budget remake. I know people are always complaining about them not being true to the comic versions but I would have thought there was room for some improvement in this one.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
With the creatives behind it saying it will be "lighthearted" - and comparing it to BIG - I think this is limbering up to be a potential misfire?
 

Gavin

Member: Rank 6
VIP
With the creatives behind it saying it will be "lighthearted" - and comparing it to BIG - I think this is limbering up to be a potential misfire?
Well based on DC's efforts to date it seems quite likely. Unlike Marvel the executives don't seem to understand what people like about their heroes.
 

chainsaw_metal1

Member: Rank 8
To paraphrase my wife when she referred to the Superman costume in Supergirl, it looks like a bad cosplay. I get what they are doing with it, but there have been several different takes on the basic red costume Shazam wears, and they could have made this look really good. Maybe I'll think differently once I see it actually in action, but the pictures make it look lackluster, like the wardrobe department ran out of fucks to give, and just threw this together in an hour. I'm still excited to see the movie, and I hope it;s better than most of what DC has given us movie-wise, but yeah, not what I was hoping for.

It almost makes this look better. Almost.
https://goo.gl/images/G9N74V

(not sure why I can't just get a picture to post there, but apparently someone is making Google more "user friendly", or whatever it is they call it when they mess with options)
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
Zachary Levi Slams “Shazam” Detractors


zachary-levi-slams-shazam-detractors-696x464.jpg



When set photos showed up of Zachary Levi in his Shazam costume, there was much debate about it. Though comics accurate, it was also obviously padded in parts as basically all superhero costumes are these days – even if only for contouring in some areas.

That is part of the point of course – Shazam himself is a young teenager’s idea of a perfect masculine adult superhero which means he’s muscularly swollen beyond any reasonable physical possibility as heroes are in comic books that celebrate a hypermasculine ideal that’s not unfairly labelled juvenile.

Levi trained a bunch for the role and has been active on social media in terms of interacting with fans. Now he’s addressed criticisms concerning his costume following online reaction that has ventured into nasty territory – including a full-on article from Men’s Health which has come under fire from various circles for its sheer pettiness and body shaming.

Appearing in a video on social media, Levi addressed criticisms of his costume after one fan straightforwardly asked ‘Why the crap suit?’:


https://twitter.com/_tronIegacy/sta...ons.com/zachary-levi-slams-shazam-detractors/


To date, no official images have been released of the costume, and so we have to to see how the suit will look in the film and in motion, and it’s not clear how much extra visual effects work will be done to it.

“Shazam!” is still a long way off though with the movie not slated to open for another year. Director David F. Sandberg had fun with fans yesterday during April Fools with the apparent release of a ‘trailer’. The result got a few laughs:


https://twitter.com/ponysmasher/status/980454648501829632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.darkhorizons.com%2Fzachary-levi-slams-shazam-detractors%2F
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
The “Shazam” Film Wraps Production


shazam-production-offers-new-details-696x464.jpg


After a three-and-a-half month film shoot in Toronto, director David F. Sandberg has confirmed that filming is now over on the DC Comics adaptation “Shazam!”.

Levi also announced the conclusion of filming on his Instagram. The production recently took over a toy store for filming, and he says the crew will be giving the toys they used on the set to non-profit organizations around Toronto.

Asher Angel (Andi Mack) will star in the film as Billy Batson, with Zachary Levi taking on the titular hero and his alter ego. Mark Strong is the villain Doctor Sivana. Ron Cephas Jones, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen and Jovan Armand co-star as Billy’s friends that live in a group home with him.

Other cast members include Ron Cephas Jones as the Wizard who gives Billy his powers. The movie opens April 5th 2019.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Joker,” “Flash” & More DC Film News


For now there’s only three DC films on the schedule – “Aquaman” for Dec 2018, “Shazam” for early 2019, and “Wonder Woman 1984” which just began filming this week. Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” is also in development with the first draft of the script is now with the studio.

Also in development is the Joaquin Phoenix-led The Joker film which is expected to launch a new sub-label under the DC Films division, possibly labelled DC Black, and is said to be sporting a 1980s gangster tone and an economical $55 million budget.

Then there’s “The Flash” movie starring Ezra Miller which will now be a much lighter and more fun affair. John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein helm the film which will begin production in early 2019 and will likely be the next DCEU film to go into production.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Shazam” Reshoot Dates


shazam-reshoot-dates-aquaman-tv-spot-696x464.jpg


Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films’ “Shazam” movie is reportedly preparing to return to Toronto for around three weeks of reshoots commencing on November 1st and running through until November 18th reports Production Weekly.

The additional photography is standard for films of this type, with seventeen days not unusual. Speculation online has already begun that Henry Cavill may shoot a Superman cameo, even as trade reports have indicated that Cavill is done with the role. “Shazam!” remains on track to open in cinemas on April 5th 2019.
 
Top