Shazam
Expected: April 5th, 2019
Character: Billy Batson, a 12-year-old orphaned boy. When first introduced in the 1940s, he was a newsie, but in the The New 52 reboot he’s a 15-year-old foster kid who’s been through several homes when he winds up in Philadelphia where events conspire to make him a hero.
Origin: The modern version of the origin Shazam (or Captain Marvel as he was originally known, but changed for obvious reasons) tells of how Billy’s parents, a pair of archaeologists, were killed while on a dig in Egypt by their unscrupulous assistant. The injustice calls out to the wizard Shazam, who senses in Billy a goodness that would make him the perfect vessel for the wizard’s power, activated whenever Billy yells the word, “Shazam!”
Powers: He’s got the powers of SHAZAM! No, really. Soloman’s wisdom, Hercules’ strength, Atlas’ stamina, Zeus’ power, Achilles’ courage and Mercury’s speed. He has super-strength, super-speed, near-invulnerability and can summon lightning for use as a weapon.
Greatest enemies: Dwayne Johnson has apparently already signed on to play Black Adam, one of Shazam’s main nemeses from the comic. Black Adam is a corrupted version of Shazam and the son of Ramses II, a ruler in Ancient Egypt. Black Adam constantly attempts to usurp Shazam’s power and make it his own again. There’s also Doctor Sivana, a mad scientist and tycoon who frequently works with Black Adam to try and defeat Shazam.
Casting: Going up against Dwayne Johnson is not easy, but for my money, Channing Tatum would be an interesting choice. He’s played many variations on the man-child trope, and could probably be fairly convincing as an actual boy not-necessarily-trapped in a man’s body, plus he’s shown in G.I. Joe: Retaliation that he can hold his own against Johnson. If not Tatum, perhaps one of his Magic Mike co-stars could do the job. I think the ladies (and some of the guys) might agree that either Joe Manganiello or Matt Bomer have the right physique to look fit in red and gold.
History and future: Naturally, comparisons to Superman are obvious, but with the darker tone developed in Man of Steel – which seems like it’s being carried through in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice – maybe it doesn’t matter. Shazam could be an antidote to the more dour Man of Steel – a light-hearted and optimistic hero that’s more becoming for a movie about a young boy’s wish fulfillment: say a magic word and become a powerful superhero. There’s been talk of a Shazam movie for almost as long as there’s been talk about an Ant-Man movie, so time will tell if the project can stay on schedule.
– Adam Donaldson
