With Marvel largely skipping the San Diego Comic-Con this year, Warner Bros. and its DCEU sees a chance to shine. Which would be welcome, given the reaction to most of the movies so far. Looking to change up the chatter is Shazam!, which takes a more comedic tone. See the first trailer...
The film – it appears they're keeping the exclamation mark in the title – focuses on teenager Billy Batson (Asher Angel), who is dealing with life as a foster child. After he's chosen by a mysterious wizard (Djimon Hounsou) to channel the magic man's powers in the service of doing good, he discovers can become the hero (played by Zachary Levi) by saying the word, “Shazam!” With the abilities six mythological gods at his beck and call, Billy has to figure out his new superhero life, even as he delights in what he can do.
Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation director David F. Sandberg made the movie, and he's certainly ramping up the lighter tone, with Levi offering a typically funny, buoyant performance. How it would fit with the more dour likes of the Justice League remains to be seen, but we are interested to one day see the first meeting of Shazam and Diana Prince, for example...
Shazam! is flying - sort of – into cinemas on 5 April next year.
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