Shazam (2019)

[The Laughing Fish]

This is one of the next DC films coming out. Here is what we know so far:

• It was announced awhile ago that The Rock is playing Black Adam - but he will NOT star in this movie. I guess this movie will focus on Doctor Sivana as the main villain?
• Zachary Levi, known for playing Chuck on TV, and even played Fandral (one of the members of the Warriors Three) in the Thor sequels, has been cast in the lead role.
• It will be directed by horror director David F. Sandberg, who in turn, confirmed on Reddit that Shazam is expected to be released on April 2019.

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dcs-shazam-casts-thor-actor-in-lead-role/1100-6454448/

[The Laughing Fish]

Mark Strong is playing Doctor Sivana, thus making it the second time he's playing a DC character since he starred as Sinestro in 2011's Green Lantern.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shazam!_(film)

Here is a still picture of what I assume is Billy Batson, with MOS and BvS Easter eggs in the background. So much for the gossip that the franchise is trying to reboot the DCEU.

[Silver Nemesis]

[johnnygobbs]

I never expected to say it, but this looks pretty good, like a superhero version of Big.  Going by the trailer, this could turn out to be a surprise gem.

[The Dark Knight]

I went from having very little interest to having considerable interest. The Shazam concept is so different to what we're seeing at the moment with comic book movies. The fish out of water, ordinary kid thing has me intrigued. Origin stories like this (testing out powers) can be really fun in a natural way. The main character being a literal big kid only heightens that vibe.

[thecolorsblend]

Ten years ago I was trying my best to astro-turf a Captain Marvel movie into reality. "No, really, this type of movie can be amazing if it's done right!" But people laughed. Laughed, I tell you!

But they're not laughing anymore.

TCB will have his revenge.

[The Laughing Fish]

So much for the gossip that the franchise is trying to reboot the DCEU.

Ugh, I said some really clueless stuff back then.

Anyway, the sequel - Fury of the Gods - flopped with an opening weekend box office figure of $65 million. Ranked one of the lowest openings for a DC movie ever. It amuses me both films altogether made less money than MOS, despite Warners having constantly disrespected Cavill for years.

Seeing as Peter Safran produced this, and Gunn stated he was interested in keeping Levi in the role, what are they going to do now? I bet you any money they'll try to have Levi stick around. Why not? They're already keeping their Suicide Squad characters.

In addition to the lame cameos made by the Peacemaker characters, which apparently name-dropped the Avengers, Gal Gadot reprised her role as Wonder Woman...in what is likely for the last time.

[The Joker]

Anyway, the sequel - Fury of the Gods - flopped with an opening weekend box office figure of $65 million. Ranked one of the lowest openings for a DC movie ever. It amuses me both films altogether made less money than MOS, despite Warners having constantly disrespected Cavill for years.

I've heard a few podcasters/youtubers robustly proclaim, over and over again, that "Shazam" was their favorite DCEU film. Though I can't really wrap my brain around that (cause honestly it can come across as a passive aggressive dig at the Snyder Bros), evidently this patronage is fairly minute, and of course the DCEU brand itself has no doubt depreciated thanks to incompetence over the years.

Seeing as Peter Safran produced this,

LOL

and Gunn stated he was interested in keeping Levi in the role, what are they going to do now? I bet you any money they'll try to have Levi stick around. Why not? They're already keeping their Suicide Squad characters.

Possibly! Though it would have been a feather in Levi's cap if this would have scored a 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes like TSS. That would've put him more on a even keel with Gunn himself. Losing coin, but just look at that certified fresh RT score.

In addition to the lame cameos made by the Peacemaker characters, which apparently name-dropped the Avengers, Gal Gadot reprised her role as Wonder Woman...in what is likely for the last time.

A rather uninspired exit if that's the case, but honestly the same goes for Cavill's Superman final appearance in "Black Adam"....

[The Dark Knight]

I went from having very little interest to having considerable interest. The Shazam concept is so different to what we're seeing at the moment with comic book movies. [The fish out of water, ordinary kid thing has me intrigued. Origin stories like this (testing out powers) can be really fun in a natural way. The main character being a literal big kid only heightens that vibe.

I think the first movie is okay for this very reason. But the series really did become generic, same old CBM mediocrity and I don't care if it dies. The young actor who plays Billy is a lot more mature than Levi's Shazam. Zackary took the 'man playing a boy' thing too far and it doesn't feel like they're the same person, and to me that's a big fail on his part. The brand damage being done to DC with products like Shazam: Fury of the Gods is incalculable. I get the idea behind expanding the character roster from just Batman, but the care level just isn't there if this is the end result. After throwaway fairy floss like this it really gets me craving JOKER, John Wick type films to get back to where I should be.

[The Laughing Fish]

There has been a lot of scapegoating from Levi and the studio for the film's failure; going so far to blame the Rock to pointing out how Snyder fans are happy. I kid you not.

I can't be bothered going into detail, so this video does a great job breaking down the details and why they're ridiculous.