With the fate of the DCEU in serious question, some DC movies are still moving forward. We know that Aquaman has wrapped production and is heading towards screens next year. We also know that there is probably going to be a Flashpoint film that is used as a way to swap out Affleck for a new Batman and make a few tonal changes that address the problems in films like Man of Steel, BvS, and Justice League. We also know that Zach Levi’s Shazam film is now officially in production and today we have our first synopsis for the film:
“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).”
The good news for for DC/ Warner Bros is that you can’t help to create a lighter toned film when your hero’s alter-ego is a kid. The question is whether Shazam will have the drawing power of characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, and whether fans are willing to give this round of DC films another chance. If the rumors about Henry Cavill’s Super Man making an appearance in the film are true, that could go a long way to goose attendance, but that has yet to be confirmed. Also, if you are expecting to see an appearance by Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, don’t get your hopes up. If it happens, it’ll probably be relegated to an after-credits scene.
Shazam Stars Asher Angel and Zachary Levi as Billy Batson and Shazam, along Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Faithe Herman, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans, and Ron Cephas Jones.