Shazam Movie Trailer, Cast, Every Update You Need To Know

Movie: Shazam!
Release Date: April 5, 2019
Cast: Asher Angel, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Ron Cephas Jones, Grace Fulton, Jack Dylan Grazer, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Faithe Herman, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, Lotta Losten
Director: David F. Sandberg
Writers: Henry Gayden, Darren Lemke

Last Updated: December 6th, 2018

Asher Angel is Playing Billy Batson in Shazam!

Child actor Asher Angel, who is known for playing Andi Mack on the Disney Channel, is playing a young Billy Batson in Shazam! In the film, Batson transforms into the superhero Shazam when he exclaims the word "Shazam!". Angel snagged the role from dozens of other young actors who were vying for the gig. What's interesting is that Angel's name is also an alliteration just as the character he plays. Fitting, isn't it?

Zachary Levi is Playing Shazam/Captain Marvel in Shazam!

Chuck and Tangled star Zachary Levi is playing the superhero Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel) in Shazam! He previously played Fandral in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok, which means he has some experience in comic book roles. But Levi has had to bulk up in order to play the DC superhero. Levi beat out reported frontrunners John Cena and Joshua Sasse for the title role.

Mark Strong is Playing Dr. Sivana in Shazam!

Mark Strong is playing Shazam!'s big bad, Doctor Sivana (whose name is a combination of the god Siva and the word "nirvana"). He's Shazam's archnemesis and one of the smartest people alive. Plus, he's a member of the Injustice League in the comics. Strong previously said playing Sivana in Shazam! is his opportunity to get right whatever wrongs from appearing in the much-maligned Green Lantern adaptation. However, Strong's portrayal of Sinestro in Martin Campbell's 2011 film wasn't what audiences had issues with, so he needn't worry about his "unfinished business" with DC Films.

Shazam! Also Stars Grace Fulton and Ron Cephas Jones

Additional cast members consist primarily of the Marvel/Shazam family, as well as Billy's closest friends. Ron Cephas Jones is playing the wizard Shazam, who endows Billy Batson with the powers of the seven Grecko-Roman gods/heroes: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. Grace Fulton, on the other hand, is believed to be playing Billy's sister, Mary Batson (who becomes a hero in her own right in the comics).

Jack Dylan Grazer (Freddy Freeman), Ian Chen (Eugene Choi), Jovan Armand (Pedro Peña), and Faithe Herman (Darla Dudley) are all slated to play Billy's closest friends (character names in parentheses). Cooper Andrews and Marta Milans are playing Billy's and the rest of the children's foster parents, with Lotta Losten (Sandberg's wife and frequent collaborator) appearing in an undisclosed role.

Shazam Fights Dr. Sivana & Deadly Forces In Shazam!

Wizard Shazam sits on his throne in DC Comics.

The official Shazam! synopsis reveals Dr. Thaddeus Sivana as the film's main villain and teases Billy Batson's newfound powers, which are endowed to him by an ancient wizard. Perhaps the biggest surprise from the synopsis, though, is that Shazam! will age-up Billy from being a 10-year-old kid to 14 years old. While Shazam will be testing out his abilities throughout the film, "he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana."

Shazam's First Trailer Has Been Released

DC's Captain Marvel, aka Billy Batson, aka Shazam

Shazam's first teaser trailer was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con, showcasing both the movie's basic premise as well as the general humor and tone, and a load of DCEU Easter eggs.

Watch Now: DC's Shazam! Comic-Con 2018 Trailer: Sup, I'm A Superhero

Shazam! Has Multiple Posters

Shazam! has had a number of posters revealed. The first is simply the movie's logo, but more recently Comic-Con Experience in Brazil released a comics-inspired poster, and Zachary Levi also released a poster of the character blowing a bubble gum bubble on his Instagram.

How Shazam! Connects to the DCEU

Shazam! does exist in Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe. Prior to the film entering pre-production, it was reported that Shazam! may exist outside the unofficially titled DCEU (a rumor exacerbated by the fact that it's being produced by New Line Cinema). Director David F. Sandberg nipped that rumor in the bud when he officially confirmed that Shazam! would be set in the DCEU in August 2017.

At the moment, though, it's unclear how the film will exactly connect to the rest of the shared universe, or if it will be a standalone story that merely takes place parallel to the other DCEU films.

Read more: Is Shazam! Set In The DCEU?

Henry Cavill Was Rumored to Cameo, But Talks Fell Apart

Henry Cavill was rumored to have a cameo as Superman in Shazam! He has one film left on his contract with Warner Bros., and appearing in Shazam! will satisfy his obligations to the role. However, it sounds like talks broke down, and now not only is Cavill's Shazam appearance in question but his future as Superman in general.

David F. Sandberg is Directing Shazam!

Horror filmmaker David F. Sandberg is directing Shazam! for New Line Cinema. Sandberg started out making short films, and the studio gave him a shot at the big leagues with a feature adaptation of his short film, Lights Out. He followed up his success with Annabelle: Creation in 2017 and is now making the jump to superhero comedy with Shazam! in 2019.

Henry Gayden & Darren Lemke Wrote Shazam!'s Script

Shazam smiling with lightning coming out of his eyes and chest in DC Comics.

New Line Cinema has been trying to adapt Shazam! since the early 2000s. The film went through multiple drafts from the likes of Joel Cohen, Peter Segal, and John August, before landing with Goosebumps scribe Darren Lemke, who wrote the film's current screenplay in 2014. Earth to Echo screenwriter Henry Gayden boarded Shazam! in January 2017 to rewrite Lemke's draft, which is now the final script that's being used in production.

Shazam! Will Be Funny, But Not Joke-y

Shazam! is going to be the DCEU's most lighthearted movie yet, with lots of situational humor. But the movie won't be filled with "quippy one-liners" according to Sandberg. There will be a balance between humor and seriousness to give audiences an accurate take on the character.

Dwayne Johnson Won't Appear as Black Adam in Shazam!

Dwayne Johnson officially joined the DCEU as Black Adam in 2014. He was expected to appear in Shazam! as the big bad, but DC Films co-chief Geoff Johns stated in July 2017 that Black Adam won't be starring in Shazam! Instead, Johnson will headline a solo Black Adam movie before facing off against Shazam in a future film.

Read more: Dwayne Johnson Won't Be in Shazam