BLACK ADAM Casts Aldis Hodge as Hawkman

Black Adam has its Winged Warrior.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor Aldis Hodge is in final negotiations to play Hawkman/Carter Hall in the upcoming DC Extended Universe film Black Adam, based on the DC Comics antihero.

Hodge will join Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam and Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, with other Justice Society of America members Doctor Fate and Cyclone yet to be cast.  Jaume Collet-Serra will direct the film, based on a script by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.

Hodge, 34, is probably best known as Alec Hardison on the TNT series Leverage, MC Ren in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, and Levi Jackson in the 2016 film Hidden Figures.  His other films include The Invisible Man (2020), What Men Want, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Die Hard with a Vengeance, A Good Day to Die Hard, Happy Feet, and Big Momma's House.  He recently appeared as Craft in the Star Trek: Short Treks mini-episode "Calypso", and has appeared in episodes of City on a Hill, Black Mirror, The Blacklist, The Walking Dead, Castle, Friday Night Lights, Charmed (2002), Boston Public, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Created in 1940 by Gardner Fox as Dennis Neville, Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1 as Carter Hall, a reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian prince Khufu.  In the days of ancient Egypt, Khufu was engaged in a feud with his rival, the Egyptian priest Hath-Set.  The priest eventually captured both Khufu and his consort Chay-Ara, and killed them using a cursed dagger of Nth metal.  Millennia later, in 1940, Khufu was reincarnated as American archaeologist Carter Hall, Chay-Ara as Shiera Saunders, and Hath-Set as scientist Anton Hastor.  After touching the same Nth Metal dagger used to kill Khufu, Carter regained the memories of his former life and realized Hastor was the reincarnation of his ancient foe.  When Hastor kidnapped Shiera, using a magic spell to draw her to his lair, Hall used his newly-refound memories to craft a gravity-defying belt using Nth metal and a winged costume to become Hawkman.  Carter successfully rescued Shiera and Anton was killed by electrocution.  Hawkman was a charter member of the Justice Society of America, and became the JSA's chairman.  Shiera later became the crimefighter Hawkgirl.  

Due to a series of reinventions of the character, some writers have attempted to integrate Carter Hall and Katar Hol, another version of Hawkman created in the 1960s, who was a police officer from the planet Thanagar and joined the Justice League of America.  They linked the Thanagarian aliens to the Egyptian curse that causes Hawkman to reincarnate periodically throughout human history, or used Carter Hall as Katar Hol's alias, or depicted the merger of Carter and Katar into one being.

In his most recent reinvention, Carter Hall has discovered that in addition to reincarnating over time on Earth, he has also lived multiple lives on alien worlds, and on at least one occasion, two or more of his reincarnations have existed simultaneously.  The other lives revealed were Katar Hol of Thanagar, Catar-Ol of Krypton, Golden Hawk (a legendary hero of an unnamed planet destroyed by Deathbringers), Avion (an ancient hero of the Microverse), The Dragon of Barabatos, Airwing of New Genesis, Katarthul of Rann, Red Harrier, and Sky Tyrant of Earth-3.  His other lives throughout Earth's history include Prince Khufu, Silent Knight (a medieval hero), Birdman of the Easter Islands, Nighthawk (a gunslinging western hero), and Carter Hall, the Golden-Age version from World War II who was a member of the Justice Society of America.

Hodge will be the fourth actor to portray Hawkman in live action, after Bill Nuckols in the Legends of the Superheroes TV specials, Michael Shanks on the TV series Smallville, and Falk Hentschel on the TV series The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow.  In addition, the character has appeared in various animated projects, including The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (voiced by Vic Perrin), the various Super Friends shows (voiced by Jack Angel), Justice League Unlimited (voiced by James Remar), The Batman (voiced by Robert Patrick), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by William Katt), Justice League Action (voiced by Troy Baker), and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (voiced by Michael Gough).

Black Adam is due to begin production in spring of 2021.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Reveals BLACK ADAM Release Date & Teaser Poster

At long last, The Rock can smelllllllll what Black Adam is cooking.

Via his Instagram account, actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has revealed the release date and official teaser poster for his upcoming movie Black Adam, based on the DC Comics supervillain and occasional antihero.  The film is currently scheduled to be released on December 22, 2021.

Alongside the teaser poster, drawn by DC Comics' chief creative officer Jim Lee, Johnson posted the following statement, "Like most kids growing up, I dreamed about being a superhero.  Having cool superpowers, fighting for what’s right and always protecting the people.  It all changed for me, when I was 10yrs old and was first introduced to the greatest superhero of all time - SUPERMAN.  As a kid, Superman was the hero I always wanted to be.  But, a few years into my fantasy, I realized that Superman was the hero, I could never be.  I was too rebellious.  Too rambunctious.  Too resistant to convention and authority.  Despite my troubles, I was still a good kid with a good heart - I just liked to do things my way.  Now, years later as a man, with the same DNA I had as a kid - my superhero dreams have come true.  I’m honored to join the iconic #DCUniverse and it’s a true pleasure to become, BLACK ADAM.  BLACK ADAM is blessed by magic with the powers equal to SUPERMAN, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line.  He’s a rebellious, one of a kind superhero, who’ll always do what’s right for the people - but he does it his way.  Truth and justice - the BLACK ADAM way.  This role is unlike any other I’ve ever played in my career and I’m grateful to the bone we’ll all go on this journey together.  BLACK ADAM  12.22.21 ⚡️  Huge thank you to my friends, @jimlee and @bosslogic for this first time ever bad ass collaboration."

Johnson has been associated with the project since 2007 and has been confirmed as Black Adam since 2014.  Black Adam was originally planned to be included in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam!, but will make his debut in his own spinoff film instead.

Johnson, 47, has appeared in a number on popular action films, including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Hobbs & Shaw, Skyscraper, Rampage, San Andreas, Fast and the Furious 5, 6, 7 and 8, Moana, the 2014 version of Hercules, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the 2008 Get Smart, The Scorpion King and The Mummy Returns.  And in 2000, Johnson appeared as The Champion in the Star Trek: Voyager TV episode "Tsunkatse."

Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck in 1945, Black Adam first appeared in The Marvel Family #1 as an ancient Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam that was chosen by the wizard Shazam under the presumption that he would be a worthy successor.  Saying the word "Shazam!", Teth-Adam was granted the same powers as the original Captain Marvel, but soon became corrupted by them.

In the recent DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, Black Adam's origin centered around a Kahndaqi boy named Aman, who was forced into abuse and slavery long ago.  Aman had an uncle named Adam, who helped Aman escape slavery.  Adam was injured during their escape, and when Aman was chosen by the wizard to be his champion, Aman shared his power with Adam to heal him.  Afterwards, Aman wanted to use his new power to help his people and cure his former slavemasters of their evil souls, but Adam only sought vengeance against those who had enslaved them.  To this end, when Aman called down the lightning, Adam seemingly killed Aman so that he became the sole recipient of the power.  However, the details of Aman's "death" are not shown, leaving his fate open to speculation.

After encountering Billy Batson shortly after he became Shazam, Black Adam appeared during the Forever Evil storyline, answering Jimmy Olsen's call for help against Ultraman of the Crime Syndicate and teaming up with Sinestro to defeat him.

Johnson will be the first actor to portray Black Adam in live action, although the character has appeared in various animated projects, including The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (voiced by Lou Scheimer), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by John DiMaggio), Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (voiced by Arnold Vosloo), and Justice League Action (voiced by Gary Cole).

Henry Cavill Out as Superman, WB Shifts Focus to SUPERGIRL Movie

Henry Cavill is up, up...and away.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Warner Bros. is parting ways with Henry Cavill, who portrayed DC Comics' legendary character Superman in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.

According to the article, Warner Bros. had been trying to get Cavill to do a Superman cameo in the upcoming DC Extended Universe movie Shazam!, but contract talks between Cavill's representatives and Warner Bros. broke down, affecting other potential Superman appearances.

One of THR's sources at Warner Bros. said the Shazam! deal fell apart because of scheduling conflicts, supported by previous reports that Cavill recently signed on to star in the Netflix series The Witcher.  However, another THR source stated that the Witcher commitment came after the impasse, suggesting a change in Warner Bros.' strategy.  "There's a recognition that some parts of the previous movies didn't work," said their studio insider.  Another source said Warner Bros. is attempting a "reset button with the DC universe", moving the cinematic universe in another direction. 

A statement from a Warner Bros. spokesperson remarked, "While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we’ve always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill, and that remains unchanged."

Cavill, 35, was cast as Superman in January 2011 for Man of Steel and recently appeared in the hit film Mission: Impossible--Fallout.  He's also appeared in the films The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Stardust, Immortals, The Cold Light of Day, Tristan & Isolde, Hellraiser: Hellworld, and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).  He also played Charles Brandon on the Showtime series The Tudors.

In addition, the article claims the studio has shifted its focus to developing the Supergirl movie, which will be an origin story.  They also state that Warner Bros. isn't likely to make a solo Superman film for at least several years, according their source.  "Superman is like James Bond," said the source, "and after a certain run you have to look at new actors."

First SHAZAM! Trailer Introduces the World's Mightiest Mortal

Just say the magic word.

The DC Films panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2018 debuted the first trailer for Shazam!, based on the classic DC Comics superhero.  

The two-minute, 50-second trailer opens with a woman talking to young Billy Batson (Asher Angel).  "You've run from foster homes in six counties," she says.

"I can take care of myself," replies Billy as we see him stealing a car.

"When you're eighteen," she says gesturing to Victor Vázquez (Cooper Andrews) and his wife Rosa (Marta Milans), who are looking to foster the orphaned Billy.  "Give these people a chance, 'cause that's what they're giving you."

The Vázquezs bring Billy home and introduce him to their other foster children.  "This is Billy Batson," says Rosa.  "Make sure you make him feel at home."

Billy meets Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), who is disabled.  "They seem nice," he tells Billy about the Vázquezs, "but don't buy it.  It gets real Game of Thrones around here."

Billy suddenly looks concerned and Freddy laughs.  "Dude, just messing around," he explains and smiles.  "You look at me and you're all like, 'Why so dark?  You're a disabled kid, you've got it all.'"

We see that Freddy has one of Batman's Batarangs as a souvenir, then follow the boys to school at Fawcett Central, where Freddy asks, "If you could have one superpower, what would you pick?  Everybody chooses flight, you know why?"

"So everyone can fly away from this conversation?" answers Billy.

"No, 'cause heroes fly."

We then see some bullies tormenting Freddy, forcing Billy to take them out with Freddy's crutch.  "Man, sorry about that," he quips.

The bullies chase Billy into the subway station, where he escapes on one of the subway cars.  Suddenly, we see the electronic destination sign glitching up with strange symbols and hear the voice of the wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou), who says, "Billy Batson.  I choose you...as champion!"

Billy, alone, steps through the opened doors into a strange cavern and encounters the wizard.  "Say my name so my powers may flow through you," commands the wizard.

"But I don't know your name, sir," replies Billy.

"Shazam," says the wizard.

Billy smiles and laughs.  "What, for real?"

"Say my name!" shouts the wizard.

"Okay!  Shazam?"  Suddenly, Billy transforms into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi) wearing a red and yellow costume with a white cape and hood.  He stares in awe at his adult form.

Billy returns home as Shazam, scaring Freddy in the process, and tells him he's Billy.  "You're the only person I know that knows anything about this caped crusader stuff," says Shazam.

Freddy asks Shazam if he can touch his glowing lightning bolt chest emblem and Shazam nods.  Electrical energy flows from the emblem into Freddy's fingers.  "That's crazy, right?" says Shazam.

"What are your superpowers?" asks Freddy.

"Superpowers?  Dude, I don't even know how to pee in this thing!"

Freddy and Shazam test out his strength and flight powers, although Shazam is only able to fly a small way before crashing back to Earth.  

Feeling a bit cockier, Shazam walks by several people and charges their cell phones with his electricity until he overdoes it on one phone and it starts sparking.

We then see Shazam confronting his arch-enemy, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).  "You're like a bad guy, right?" he says to Dr. Sivana, only to have Sivana grab his fist in mid-throw.

As Shazam, Billy and Freddy confront some robbers in a convenience store.  Shazam calls out to the robbers, who attempt to shoot him, only to find that the bullets are unable to penetrate Shazam's skin.

"You have bullet immunity!" shouts Freddy in excitement.

"I'm bulletproof," Shazam says in stunned amazement.

Freddy takes a cell phone picture and Shazam turns back to the robbers.  "You're dead," he says and throws them both through the store window into the parking lot outside.  "Sorry about your window!" Shazam yells to the clerk as he walks out with a six pack of bottled beer.  "You're welcome for not getting robbed!"

We then see him carrying a bunch of junk food outside the convenience store as a woman walks by and stares at him.  "Oh, hey, what's up?" says Shazam.  "I'm a superhero."

If you'd like to view the trailer, you can check it out below thanks to the official Warner Bros. Pictures account on YouTube...




Shazam! arrives in theaters on April 5, 2019.

SHAZAM! Casts Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman

Billy Batson just got a best friend.

Deadline has revealed that the upcoming New Line Cinema film Shazam! has cast Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, better known to DC Comics fans as the superhero Captain Marvel, Jr.  Grazer joins Zachary Levi as Shazam and Asher Angel as Shazam's secret identity Billy Batson.

According to the article, Freddy is described as "Batson’s best friend and the only person who knows the truth about Shazam."

The DC Extended Universe film centers on a boy named Billy Batson, who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word "Shazam!"  The name is an acronym of the ancient world gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, from which the adult Batson obtains his heroic abilities.

David F. Sandberg will direct Shazam! from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.  Annabelle: Creation producer Peter Safran is reuniting with Sandberg for the film, and is also producing DC's Aquaman for Warner Bros.  The film is currently looking at a February 2018 start date in Toronto.

Grazer, 14, is best known as Eddie Kaspbrak in the film adaptation of Stephen King's It.  He also appeared in the movie Tales of Halloween and on episodes of the TV series Me, Myself & I and Comedy Bang! Bang!

Created in 1941 by France Herron and Mac Raboy, Freddy Freeman first appeared in Whiz Comics #25.  During a battle with the supervillain Captain Nazi, one of Captain Marvel’s punches sent the villain careening into a lake.  An elderly man and his teenage grandson happened to be fishing in the lake nearby and, not knowing who he is, lifted the unconscious man into their boat to prevent him from drowning.  Captain Nazi immediately came to, tossed the old man into the lake, and knocked the boy out of the boat with an oar.  The old man immediately died, but Captain Marvel was able to save the unconscious boy, Freddy Freeman, and brought him to a hospital.

In his alter ego as young Billy Batson, Captain Marvel learned from a nurse that Freddy was not expected to last the night.  Billy toook Freddy to the underground throne room of the wizard Shazam, who originally granted Captain Marvel his powers.  Billy asked the wizard to heal Freddy and save his life, but Shazam said he was unable to, and instead told Billy that he, as Captain Marvel, could pass along some of his powers so that Freddy could walk again.  Shazam disappeared and Billy transformed back into Captain Marvel, just as Freddy awakened.  Looking up, he exclaimed, "Why...it’s Captain Marvel," and was instantly transformed into a super-powered version of himself.  Freddy, now called Captain Marvel Jr., resembled a younger Captain Marvel, though with a yellow-on-blue costume with a red cape, rather than Captain Marvel's yellow-on-red with a white cape.  Captain Marvel informed Junior that he couldn't remain in his superpowered form at all times, and that he needed to allow his human form to heal as best as it could.  With that, Freddy once again said his mentor's name and returned to his hospital bed.  Freddy remained permanently lame in his left leg and was forced to walk with a crutch, although Captain Marvel Jr. had no such impediment.  As a result, Junior sought revenge against Captain Nazi, and the two repeatedly battled in a number of World War II-era comic stories.

In the current DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, Freddy was reimagined in Justice League (vol.2) #8 as part of Billy's new foster family of Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez, Mary Bromfield, Pedro Pena, Eugene Choi, and Darla Dudley.  This version of Freddy, now depicted with blond hair instead of black, took Billy's coat and stole his wallet.  In the finale of the series of Shazam! origin story in Justice League (vol.2) #21, Billy shared his powers with his foster siblings, and Freddy received the traditional "Captain Marvel, Jr." color of blue for his costume.  He also remarked that he wanted to be called "King Shazam", a nod to Elvis Presley's known fondness for the character.

This will be the first time Freddy Freeman will appear in live-action, although Captain Marvel, Jr. has appeared in the animated projects The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (voiced by Barry Gordon), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by John DeVito), Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (voiced by Bruce Timm), and Justice League: War (voiced by Georgie Kidder).

Shazam! is currently expected to arrive in theaters on April 5, 2019.
 

SHAZAM! Casts Asher Angel as Billy Batson

The World's Mightiest Mortal finally has a secret identity.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that the upcoming film Shazam! has cast Asher Angel as DC Comics character William "Billy" Batson, who becomes the adult superhero Shazam.

The film centers on a boy named Billy Batson, who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word "Shazam!"  The name is an acronym of the ancient world gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, from which the adult Batson obtains his heroic abilities.

Asher, 15, is probably best known as Jonah Beck on the Disney TV series Andi Mack.  His other television appearances include episodes of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.

David F. Sandberg will direct Shazam! from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.  Annabelle: Creation producer Peter Safran is reuniting with Sandberg for the film, and is also producing DC's Aquaman for Warner Bros.  The film is currently looking at a February 2018 start date in Toronto.

Shazam! will be the next DC Cinematic Universe movie to begin shooting, ahead of Flashpoint, the Joss Whedon-directed Batgirl, and the sequels to Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman.  DC and Warner Bros. are also currently developing a standalone film about Black Adam, Shazam’s arch nemesis, with Dwayne Johnson is attached to play Black Adam.

Created in 1940 by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, Shazam first appeared as the Fawcett Comics superhero Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2.  Billy Batson, a homeless 12-year-old newsboy slept in a subway station until a mysterious man in a green trenchcoat and hat asked Billy to follow him, where a magic subway car painted in unusual shapes and colors escorted them to an underground throne room, inhabited by a very old man with a long beard and a white robe.  As the man in green disappeared, the old man on the throne explained to Billy that he was the wizard Shazam, and used the powers of the gods Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury to fight evil for over 3,000 years. However, he grew too old to continue and was in need of a successor.  The wizard explained that Billy was chosen due to his misfortune, after he had been thrown out by a greedy uncle who stole his inheritance following the deaths of his parents.  

Ordered by the wizard to speak the name "Shazam," Billy was struck by a sudden bolt of lightning and transformed into a superpowered adult in a red costume with gold trim.  The wizard Shazam declared the new hero "Captain Marvel" and ordered Billy to carry on his work, just before a stone block suspended above Shazam's throne fell on him, killing him as prophesied.  The wizard later returned as a spirit to serve as a mentor to Billy and Captain Marvel, summoned by lighting a torch on the wall of his lair.  As a spirit, the wizard Shazam lived at the Rock of Eternity, a bicone-shaped rock formation situated at the nexus of time and space.  Saying the word "Shazam" allowed Billy to summon the magic lightning and become Captain Marvel, while Captain Marvel could say the magic word to become Billy once again.

In the current DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, the character was renamed Shazam in 2011 to avoid legal conflicts with Marvel Comics' characters using the name Captain Marvel, even though those characters were created decades after DC's Captain Marvel.  Shazam made his debut in Justice League (vol.2) #7, with Billy Batson now a terrible foster child who became cold and cruel to most people following the death of his parents and his treatment thereafter.  Growing selfish and heartless, he went from foster home to foster home until he landed in an orphanage in Philadelphia and was partially forced to live with a new family, the Vasquezes.

After being adopted, he moved into the Vazquezes' home where he met Mary, Freddy, Eugene, Pedro, and Darla, who were also adopted.  Annoyed by his new family, Billy decided to leave as he's done countless times before, but he was whisked away to the Rock of Eternity where he met the Wizard.  There, the Wizard searched the boy's soul and saw that he was not perfectly good.  Billy was instantly enraged, telling the wizard off for thinking that perfect good exists.  The Wizard, seeing the boy's point, witnessed all the good that Billy had done and accepted that the world had changed and now perfection has been exchanged for the hope of becoming good.  The Wizard granted Billy the ability to wield the Living Lightning, turning him into the champion, Shazam.  As Shazam, Billy defeated the threat of Black Adam and eventually joined the Justice League for a brief time.

Asher will be the third actor to portray Billy Batson in live action, after Frank Coghlan, Jr. in the 1941 film serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel, and Michael Gray in the 1974-77 CBS series Shazam!  The character has also appeared in various animated projects, including Justice League Unlimited (voiced by Shane Haboucha), Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (voiced by Rachael MacFarlane), Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam and Justice League: War (voiced by Zach Callison), Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (voiced by Jennifer Hale), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Tara Strong), Young Justice (voiced by Robert Ochoa), and Justice League Action (voiced by Sean Astin).

Shazam! is currently expected to arrive in theaters sometime in 2019.

SHAZAM! Casts Zachary Levi as...Shazam

New Line just found someone to say the magic word.

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the upcoming New Line Cinema film Shazam!, based on the DC Comics character, has cast Zachary Levi in the title role.  Levi was chosen over WWE wrestler John Cena, Derek Theler (star of ABC Family's Baby Daddy), Zane Holtz (From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series), Billy Magnussen, and Jake McDorman (Limitless).

The film centers on a boy named Billy Batson, who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word "Shazam!"  The name is an acronym of the ancient world gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, from which the adult Batson obtains his heroic abilities.

Levi, 37, is best known as Chuck Bartowski on the NBC series Chuck, and as Fandral the Dashing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.  His other television appearances include episodes of Alias Grace, Telenovela, Heroes Reborn, Robot Chicken, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.  He's also appeared in the films Tangled, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Big Momma's House 2.

Levi wrote on his official Instagram account, "Honored and greatly humbled to be a part of the #dcuniverse by bringing the original Captain Marvel to life.  I am beside myself with gratitude, not only for this opportunity, but also the incredible outpouring of love and support from so many of you out there in the world.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be in the gym for the rest of forever."

According to the article, David F. Sandberg will direct Shazam! from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.  Annabelle: Creation producer Peter Safran is reuniting with Sandberg for the film, and is also producing DC's Aquaman for Warner Bros.  The film is currently looking at a February 2018 start date in Toronto.

Created in 1940 by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, Shazam first appeared as the Fawcett Comics superhero Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2.  Billy Batson, a homeless 12-year-old newsboy slept in a subway station until a mysterious man in a green trenchcoat and hat asked Billy to follow him, where a magic subway car painted in unusual shapes and colors escorted them to an underground throne room, inhabited by a very old man with a long beard and a white robe.  As the man in green disappeared, the old man on the throne explained to Billy that he was the wizard Shazam, and used the powers of the gods Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury to fight evil for over 3,000 years. However, he grew too old to continue and was in need of a successor.  The wizard explained that Billy was chosen due to his misfortune, after he had been thrown out by a greedy uncle who stole his inheritance following the deaths of his parents.  

Ordered by the wizard to speak the name "Shazam," Billy was struck by a sudden bolt of lightning and transformed into a superpowered adult in a red costume with gold trim.  The wizard Shazam declared the new hero "Captain Marvel" and ordered Billy to carry on his work, just before a stone block suspended above Shazam's throne fell on him, killing him as prophesied.  The wizard later returned as a spirit to serve as a mentor to Billy and Captain Marvel, summoned by lighting a torch on the wall of his lair.  As a spirit, the wizard Shazam lived at the Rock of Eternity, a bicone-shaped rock formation situated at the nexus of time and space.  Saying the word "Shazam" allowed Billy to summon the magic lightning and become Captain Marvel, while Captain Marvel could say the magic word to become Billy once again.

In the current DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, the character was renamed Shazam in 2011 to avoid legal conflicts with Marvel Comics' characters using the name Captain Marvel, even though those characters were created decades after DC's Captain Marvel.  Shazam made his debut in Justice League (vol.2) #7, with Billy Batson now a terrible foster child who became cold and cruel to most people following the death of his parents and his treatment thereafter.  Growing selfish and heartless, he went from foster home to foster home until he landed in an orphanage in Philadelphia and was partially forced to live with a new family, the Vasquezes.

After being adopted, he moved into the Vazquezes' home where he met Mary, Freddy, Eugene, Pedro, and Darla, who were also adopted.  Annoyed by his new family, Billy decided to leave as he's done countless times before, but he was whisked away to the Rock of Eternity where he met the Wizard.  There, the Wizard searched the boy's soul and saw that he was not perfectly good.  Billy was instantly enraged, telling the wizard off for thinking that perfect good exists.  The Wizard, seeing the boy's point, witnessed all the good that Billy had done and accepted that the world had changed and now perfection has been exchanged for the hope of becoming good.  The Wizard granted Billy the ability to wield the Living Lightning, turning him into the champion, Shazam.  As Shazam, Billy defeated the threat of Black Adam and eventually joined the Justice League for a brief time.

Levi will be the fifth actor to portray Captain Marvel/Shazam in live action, after Tom Tyler in the 1941 film serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel, Jackson Bostwick and John Davey in the 1974-77 CBS series Shazam!, and Garrett Craig in the two Legends of the Superheroes TV specials.  The character has also appeared in various animated projects, including The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (voiced by Burr Middleton), Justice League Unlimited and Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (voiced by Jerry O'Connell),
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (voiced by Corey Burton), Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (voiced by Steven Blum), Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Jeff Bennett), Young Justice (voiced by Rob Lowe and Chad Lowe), and Justice League: War, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis and Justice League Action (voiced by Sean Astin).

Shazam! is currently expected to arrive in theaters sometime in 2019.

Warner Bros. Announces DC Comics Film Schedule Through 2020

DC Comics fans, you've had to deal with smacktalk from Marvel fans for quite a while now, but your time has finally come.

The Hollywood Reporter has word that Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tuijihara has announced the studio's plans for films based on DC Comics properties through 2020.  Ten films for the new DC Cinematic Universe were named, although some of them were previously confirmed.  Here's the rundown...

• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice directed by Zack Snyder (2016)
• Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer (2016)
• Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot (2017)
• Justice League Part One directed by Snyder, with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Amy Adams reprising their roles (2017)
• The Flash starring Ezra Miller (2018)
• Aquaman starring Jason Momoa (2018)
• Shazam (2019)
• Justice League Part Two directed by Zack Snyder (2019)
• Cyborg starring Ray Fisher (2020)
• Green Lantern (2020)

In addition, Tuijihara's press release also mentioned standalone films for Superman and Batman. 

DC appears to have beaten Marvel to the punch by announcing Wonder Woman and Cyborg, featuring female and African-American superheroes that have yet to be featured in any solo Marvel film. 

It seems the rumored Flash/Green Lantern team-up film isn't happening after all, with solo films for both characters instead.  The simple Green Lantern title is also interesting, implying a possible reboot from the 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds, although that could easily change between now and 2020.

Dwayne Johnson Confirmed as Black Adam in SHAZAM!

Can you smellllllllllll what Black Adam is cooking?

After months of speculation, actor/wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson finally confirmed his upcoming DC Comics movie role -- the villainous Black Adam in a film adaptation of Shazam!  Johnson posted the following on his official Twitter account this afternoon...

"Kneel at his feet or get crushed by his boot." My honor to become.. #BlackAdam #TheAntiHero #DCComics pic.twitter.com/Qk55eNf3R7
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 3, 2014

DC Comics chief creative officer and writer of the recent Shazam reboot running through various issues of his Justice League series, also confirmed the news on Twitter, remarking that Johnson's casting was indeed "official."

Variety also confirms that a Shazam! movie adaptation is actually happening at New Line Cinema, after years of failed attempts.  Their sources claim that Darren Lemke is set to write the script and that Johnson is producing the film along with Hiram Garcia. 

"We love Dwayne and have had nothing but success with him over the years," said Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Operating Officer of New Line.  "When I look at Dwayne both off screen and on screen, he is such a larger than life character and it just made perfect sense to me that we put him in a DC comic movie.  You look at these comic book characters and they have this certain swag and charisma that Dwayne carries with him where ever he is so that’s why this always made sense."

Johnson, now 42, has appeared in a number on popular action films, including Fast and the Furious 5, 6 and 7, the 2014 version of Hercules, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the 2008 Get Smart, The Scorpion King and The Mummy Returns.  And in 2000, Johnson appeared as The Champion in the Star Trek: Voyager TV episode "Tsunkatse."

Created by Otto Binder and C.C. Beck in 1945, Black Adam first appeared in The Marvel Family #1 as an ancient Egyptian prince named Teth-Adam that was chosen by the wizard Shazam under the presumption that he would be a worthy successor.  Saying the word "Shazam!", Teth-Adam was granted the same powers as the original Captain Marvel, but soon became corrupted by them.

In the recent DC Comics continuity known as The New 52, Black Adam was a former slave who was teleported from his prison cell to the Rock of Eternity and granted his powers by the wizard.  After encountering Billy Batson shortly after he became Shazam, Black Adam appeared during the Forever Evil storyline, answering Jimmy Olsen's call for help against Ultraman of the Crime Syndicate and teaming up with Sinestro to defeat him.

The Shazam! movie has yet to be officially announced, but is expected sometime between 2016 and 2020.