SHAZAM Director David F. Sandberg Reveals Whether The Wizard Will Be Called Shazam

SHAZAM Director David F. Sandberg Reveals Whether The Wizard Will Be Called Shazam SHAZAM Director David F. Sandberg Reveals Whether The Wizard Will Be Called Shazam

Originally, Billy Batson's superhero alter-ego was called Captain Marvel (technically, Captain Thunder) and the wizard was known as Shazam but trademark conflicts have seen both characters rebranded.

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By MarkJulian - Jan 25, 2018 08:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Shazam
After Marvel Comics launched a successful trademark of the Captain Marvel name, modern DC Comics rebranded their Fawcett Comics Superman as Shazam. In addition to saying the name of the powerful magic-wielder to transform into his superhero alter-ego, DC decided to streamline things and simply make that the hero's name as well.

As a result, the wizard largely stopped be referred to as Shazam and was simply just called The Wizard.  

Some old school comic fans were hoping that wouldn't be the case in David F. Sandberg's live-action adaptation and the director recently took to Twitter to address those concerns.

Shazam is scheduled to begin filming next month and is currently slated for an April 5, 2019, release date.  

The leads for the superhero feature film includes Asher Angel as a teenage Billy Batson, Zachary Levi as his musclebound alter ego Shazam, and Mark Strong as the villainous Doctor Sivana.

The full Marvel family is also slated to appear, with Grace Fulton portraying Mary Bromfield aka Mary Marvel, Jack Dylan Grazer set to portray Freddy Freeman aka Captain Marvel Jr. and  Ian Chen and Jovan Armand rounding out Billy's additional foster family as Eugene Choi and Pedro Peña, respectively.
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CWBNGAJEEPGUY85
CWBNGAJEEPGUY85 - 1/25/2018, 8:38 AM
I’m stoked for the film!
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 1/25/2018, 8:51 AM
@CWBNGAJEEPGUY85 - Aquaman and Shazam depend on a good trailer. If the trailer sucks or looks boring I am done with the DCEU until Matt Reeves reboots it with THE BATMAN.
CWBNGAJEEPGUY85
CWBNGAJEEPGUY85 - 1/25/2018, 9:13 AM
@mastakilla39 - I get it. I do. While I’ve enjoyed the DC movies, even Justice League, the more I read about it the more it frustrates me of what could have been.

As for this film, I’m a huge fan of Big with Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins and look forward to that. I’m sure there will be similar corny jokes about bigger abs, muscles, and a wanker, I’m still excited to see this.

As for giving up on DC, I go to the movies to escape this world. So no matter how “bad” the movie might be to critics, I usually enjoy them and have fun.

Only one movie I’ve ever wanted to walk out on and that was American Sniper with Brad Cooper. He played Chris Kyle well and it was gut wrenching to know what will eventually happen. I don’t want to see movies like that, y’know?
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 1/25/2018, 10:10 AM
@CWBNGAJEEPGUY85 - totally agree about your escapism preference. I like fantasy adventure films like wizard of oz and the lord of rings for that same reason.

But as an avid movie goer I at least want a good film and experience coming out. We as fans cant settle for less just because film makers are lazy, can do better, and are paid better to deliver entertainment.

Films I wanted to walk out of are Ninja Turtles remake, Fast and Furious 7&8, Transformers 2&3, and Suicide Squad because they made me feel stupid and uneducated. As if filmmakers think only stupid people watch those films and dont want a good or structured film.

I know lots of people who love those films too, but this is just my preference.
CWBNGAJEEPGUY85
CWBNGAJEEPGUY85 - 1/25/2018, 1:18 PM
@mastakilla39 - I’ve not seen a Fast and Furious movie since 2 Fast 2 Furious! Suicide Squad I bought on blue ray for Christmas, it was $3! And the transformers movies are me and my wife’s guilty pleasures! Same with the GI Joe movies! Such dumb, OTT fun!
ComicDriver
ComicDriver - 1/25/2018, 8:40 AM
I am so hyped for this movie, this could be amazing. Plus, super will be the mentor so..
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 1/25/2018, 8:41 AM
GhostDog
GhostDog - 1/25/2018, 8:41 AM
I just started reading some of the New 52 stuff. Its really good. Love Frank's artwork.
IronGenesis
IronGenesis - 1/25/2018, 8:43 AM
It’s a little thing...
But Old DCEU would let this “rumor” linger for months.
Wan and Sandberg seem to have at least a ear to the social media and understand how this whole ball game rolls.
BloodyBed
BloodyBed - 1/25/2018, 8:44 AM
why did people even question this.
MarvelDCAllDay
MarvelDCAllDay - 1/25/2018, 9:05 AM
@BloodyBed - Literally says in the article
soberchimera
soberchimera - 1/25/2018, 9:17 AM
@BloodyBed - Because Johns came up with the dumbass idea of renaming Captain Marvel as Shazam. I loved the New 52 series, but that was just not the right move.
Battabing
Battabing - 1/25/2018, 9:45 AM
@soberchimera -
I think with Rebirth (a return to DC classicism) the Captain Marvel name is making a comeback.
Calling him Shazam was one of Johns's worst ideas, but the trend started with Judd Winnick.
Repian
Repian - 1/25/2018, 8:55 AM
RancidBane
RancidBane - 1/25/2018, 9:19 AM
@Repian - that's amazing concept art.
JohnnyTBP
JohnnyTBP - 1/25/2018, 8:55 AM
I'm ready
ChangAlang
ChangAlang - 1/25/2018, 8:57 AM
I’m glad this is coming out before The Rock’s Black Adam. If we aren’t confused enough with the DC property having the antagonist before the protagonist is kind of silly.

But as I know stuff all about Black Adam’s history I happily concede if I’m in the wrong😊
Omegacron
Omegacron - 1/25/2018, 9:04 AM
@ChangAlang - It would work if they made Black Adam a prequel taking place back in Egyptian times, with him defeating the villain (some god, no doubt) but then accepting the throne as a reward and Shazam imprisons him for his greed.
RolandD
RolandD - 1/25/2018, 9:41 AM
@Omegacron -
@ChangAlang -
I also think it makes more sense to do it this way. In fact, I never thought a Black Adam solo movie was a good idea. We would not even be talking about it if it was not a Dwayne Johnson showcase that he wanted to do. He's had the Midas Touch at the box office lately. I'd rather see him as a villain in Shazam 2 if the first movie does well enough.
ChangAlang
ChangAlang - 1/25/2018, 10:45 AM
@RolandD - Apart from I think Baywatch(? never saw it) your statement rings true about his Midas touch👍🏽 Jumanji is a prime example. But yes, keep him for the sequel because he’s procrastinating about this project of late.
RolandD
RolandD - 1/25/2018, 10:59 AM
@ChangAlang - Yeah, well they can't all be winners. Baywatch was a stupid idea to make into a feature film IMHO.
Omegacron
Omegacron - 1/26/2018, 12:03 PM
@RolandD - true, but it was worth it just to watch Alexandria Daddario run around in that bathing suit
ODanil
ODanil - 1/25/2018, 8:58 AM
It would make zero sense for him not to be named Shazam.
niknik
niknik - 1/25/2018, 9:56 AM
@ODanil - Sounds like someone doesn't know the source material. Shazam is the wizards name that Billy Batson calls out in order to transform into Captain Marvel. It would make zero sense for him to be named Shazam. I applaud Sandberg for getting it right! I wish that would happen more often when iconic literary works are adapted to cinema.
RolandD
RolandD - 1/25/2018, 11:02 AM
@niknik - Exactly. Shazam in-flight along with Superman. "What's your name??" Kal-El asks him. "Shazam," and Billy plunges to his death. Of course Superman would not let him die, but you get my point.
ODanil
ODanil - 1/25/2018, 12:47 PM
@RolandD - @niknik - yeah...what the hell are you guys talking about?

I'm saying the wizard HAS to be named Shazam. Article is about the Wizard, not Billy.
RolandD
RolandD - 1/25/2018, 3:21 PM
@ODanil -
@niknik - Course I don’t know that it is right to speak for niknik, but I would say that it is safe to say we agree and have moved on to the next logical character’s name.
KingNomarch
KingNomarch - 1/25/2018, 9:07 AM
RancidBane
RancidBane - 1/25/2018, 9:18 AM
Sandburg seems like a cool dude and a total nerd like the rest of us. Can't wait for his rendition of the character. I wonder who the villain will end up being.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 1/25/2018, 9:19 AM
Just call him Captain Marvel in the movie, he had the damn name first. And it would be a huge middle finger to Marvel Studios. The ONLY reason there's a Captain Marvel in the Marvel Universe was to prevent DC from publishing Captain Marvel, but DC did it anyway under the name SHAZAM!, the movie shouldn't be any different.
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