Though it spent a little more time in the oven than initially expected, Billy Batson’s super costume has officially been unveiled to the world. And much to the surprise of no one, it’s garnered a decidedly mixed reception.
So much so, in fact, that Shazam! director David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation) has been soliciting all sorts of questions and queries over on Twitter, where the filmmaker confirmed that he looked to the Golden Age of comics while creating Zachary Levi’s suit.
Not only that, but this old-fashioned look will allow Shazam! to separate itself from the pack – both in terms of the DC Extended Universe and the wider comic book movie genre – all the while driving home the point that, yes, this is a much more light-hearted adventure than the likes of Justice League, Suicide Squad, and Batman V Superman.
But for those sweating over the finer details of Billy Batson’s godly costume, Sandberg clarified a number of design choices, including the shorter lightning bolt emblazoned on Shazam’s chest and the lack of sparks.
The filmmaker began by outlining his own inspirations for the Shazam! suit, and why it’ll allow Levi’s hero, one capable of transforming into a beefed-up superhero simply by shouting the titular catchphrase, to stand on his own two feet. There’s also some fascinating intel on how Sandberg and his team arrived at the finished design, before the director reminded viewers that there are still many more months of post-production to look forward to.
I wanted him to feel a bit like an old fashioned super hero from the golden age of comics. Figured it would also make him stand out from the rest. https://t.co/3Joow3nBh6
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) May 22, 2018
He needed to be able to bend his body. You find out that a lot of things that look cool are very impractical and it takes a couple of tries making these suits. https://t.co/XPhzJERpsI
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) May 22, 2018
We're still working on the look of all that since it's a post effect. https://t.co/bG9WUbiEiZ
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) May 22, 2018
Imbued with the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and the blisteringly fast Mercury, look for Zachary Levi and Co. to steer the DCEU in a decidedly different direction when Shazam! opens big on April 5th, 2019.
