Director David F. Sandberg has confirmed that, yes, the red-and-golden super suit of Shazam! packs a little muscle padding – not unlike that belonging to Gotham’s Caped Crusader.
In light of Entertainment Weekly’s big reveal (see here), Sandberg has offered more insight into Billy Batson’s superhero form, and how it compares to Superman and Batman.
So while Zachary Levi logged a serious amount of hours in the gym getting into superhuman shape, he did get a little help from the costume department at Warner Bros., which helps explain those bulging biceps. Not to take anything away from Levi’s transformation, of course, as the actor undoubtedly looks the part as DC’s next cinematic mascot.
He’s what Sandberg told Entertainment Weekly when asked about the suit:
I don’t know if [the suit is] crazy big if you look at some of the others — look at Batman. I wanted to keep the shorter cape as a throwback to the original because that’s something that sets him apart from Superman or Batman. It makes him feel a bit more Golden Age superhero, which is the vibe I’m going for.
Shazam! has since shifted into the latter stages of production, so there’s a very good chance Warner Bros. will be ready to cast a spell over SDCC attendees next week with the first-look trailer for David F. Sandberg’s solo pic. Keep your peepers peeled.
Once Aquaman has come and gone, and moviegoers are acquainted with DC’s King of the Seven, all eyes in the comic book industry will turn to Shazam! ahead of its own launch on April 5th. It’s one of two big-name Warner Bros. flicks due to take flight in 2019, what with Wonder Woman 1984 also expected to arrive within the next 18 months.
