SHAZAM!: Everything We Learned From The Set Visits Along With Some Electrifying New Images

While we all wait patiently for the new Shazam! trailer, Warner Bros. has lifted the embargo on set visits and we have some huge, potentially spoilery reveals for you about the DC Comics adaptation...

By JoshWilding - Jan 24, 2019 05:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Shazam

Captain Marvel may be the first superhero movie of 2019 but there's another "Captain" on the way to the big screen shortly after. We are, of course, referring to Shazam!, a release which appears to be a huge departure from what we've come to expect from the DC Extended Universe over the years.

With no sign of that long-rumoured new trailer, Warner Bros. has at least lifted the lid on set visits.

We've now combed through interviews with Zachary Levi (Shazam), Mark Strong (Dr. Sivana), and director David F. Sandberg to bring you all the biggest new reveals about the movie, including intel on Black Adam, the Seven Deadly Sins, the setting, how it ties into the wider DCEU, and a whole lot more.

So, to check out this breakdown of new details, simply hit the "View List" button down below.

Shazam! Is Only Loosely Based On "The New 52"

While you might think that Shazam! is based heavily on Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's run during "The New 52" relaunch, Levi has confirmed that while that definitely influenced the movie, there's a lot more to it than that and he actually found his main source of inspiration in Kingdom Come.

"As soon as I got the job, Geoff Johns sent me a whole bunch of stuff, and some other friends recommended stuff. I wanted to read those to kind of familiarize myself, but, also, see if there were little nuggets or little things. But the truth is The New 52 is really…not canon for this… because this is even different than what The New 52 is. I did quite like Kingdom Come. Even though that’s a completely different situation, it shows Captain Marvel in a really incredible… the innocence. He’s an adult and he still has that heart. I thought, “That’s such a cool thing to be able to take that in and is ultimately a sacrificial move at the end and all of that.” I just found that was more inspiration for me than even The New 52 in a lot of ways because we get away with a lot in comics."

This doesn't mean the movie itself is inspired by Kingdom Come (which is set in the DC Universe's future) but it certainly points to Warner Bros. having borrowed material from the character's entire history and that's bound to make fans very happy indeed.

David F. Sandberg On Following Justice League

Aquaman was already in production when Justice League was released and that means Shazam! was the first DC Comics movie to start shooting after the backlash to the DC Comics ensemble.

Did that change plans for the project at all, though? According to Sandberg, no: "I mean, it’s such a separate film that I don’t think it changed anything really. It’s very different from Justice League. It’s still the same universe, but just has a very different tone, and it’s not...yeah."

Does Shazam! Set The Stage For Black Adam?

It's fair to say that we're all probably hoping for an after-credits scene featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson suited up as Black Adam but there's no guarantee and Sandberg was reluctant to offer any specifics in regards to that beloved villain.

"Well, I mean, this movie’s mostly just about introducing Billy Batson and Shazam, and who he is, how he came to be," the filmmaker reveals. "Yeah, it takes place in this DC world, where all these heroes exist, but in some ways, yeah, it’s both sort of self-contained, while also being a part of something bigger. But yeah, that’s a non-answer."

A non-answer may be just that or the director could be unwilling to give anything away. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The Movie Is Set Firmly Within The DCEU

Asked if Shazam! actually takes place within the DCEU as we know it, Levin explained that while this adventure does take place in the same world as the likes of Suicide Squad and Aquaman, it may also be somewhat removed from them given the nature of the characters involved here.

"We are definitely within the DCEU world," he says. "Everything that has happened… again you should ask the people above me about some of these things. But the bulk of essentially, I think since the Man of Steel, all of that has really happened in our world. Freddy is more the comic book, not just comics, he is the superhero aficionado. That guy is all about it."

As for how they'll know about the DCEU's history, like any kid in this world, it seems as if they'll have seen it all online and in the news (explaining those news clippings on Freddy's wall). "All of that stuff, theoretically, we could have been watching on the news as it was going down," he adds.

Mark Strong Won't Be Pulling Double Duty In The DCEU

Most fans agree that Mark Strong's Sinestro was pretty much the only good thing about 2011's Green Lantern movie but is there any chance at all that he would be open to reprising the role in the planned reboot? As you might expect, that's not something which is currently in the works.

"[My] version of Sinestro I think is going to be rebooted, as they say, no doubt when the new Green Lantern comes out, which I think they’re doing," Strong explains. "But as I said and I mean it, I felt really… it was a little interrupted because Sinestro was gonna go into the second movie and become the yellow Sinestro that we know and love and cause havoc."

"It got cut short by the fact that they never made a second movie of that particular incarnation of Green Lantern and Sinestro. But, thankfully, I’ve now got a chance to maybe exercise my evil credentials with Doctor Sivana."

Changing The Seven Deadly Sins

In recent weeks, it's become clear that we are indeed going to see the Seven Deadly Sins in Shazam! but if you think you know what to expect from them after reading the comic books, guess again. Sandberg (who has a history with horror movies) clearly relished being able to make some changes to them and bring some of his past filmmaking experience to the table here.

"I wanted to do something a little different from … like in the Geoff Johns versions you have … they look very different, because you have one that looks like a person, one that looks like a monster, and I wanted to go more sort of monster route and also do cool stuff with the mechanics of how they go between solid form and ghost form and how challenging that is to fight and stuff like that."

Don't Expect Any Green Lantern Easter Eggs

Given the magical nature of this story, I'm sure we'll get a lot of interesting Easter Eggs in Shazam! but what about Green Lantern? While this question was seemingly posed in relation to Strong's history with Sinestro, Sandberg made it clear that we won't get any references to that here.

That makes sense (Warner Bros. no doubt wants to just forget that misstep and move on) but the director had nothing but good things to say about the actor."[He] really enjoys playing a villain as well. He really has fun with being a bad guy, which is great, because it’s just so fun to watch with someone who enjoys being evil. Yeah, we’re very lucky to get him, because he’s such a great actor."

Zachary Levi Believes Henry Cavill Is Still Superman

Following Zachary Levi's gushing sentiments about working in the DCEU, one journalist suggested telling that to Henry Cavill and while this interview was conducted seemingly before the actor chose to walk away from the role of Superman, this response is still pretty interesting.

"Well, but he’s still Superman," Levi noted. "He’s still Superman. Just because they haven’t gotten around to making another standalone Superman movie, doesn’t mean he’s still not Superman and doesn’t mean he’s still not killing it as Superman. Doesn’t mean everybody doesn’t still love him as Superman, right?"

It's said that Cavill refused to cameo in Shazam! so here's hoping there's no ill feeling...

The Movie's Tone

It's no secret that Shazam! is going to have a tone similar to something like Big, but what exactly should we expect from the DC Comics adaptation, especially now it's been confirmed to have some horror elements courtesy of the Seven Deadly Sins?

"It’s sort of a … Yeah, it’s a fun movie…Like, it’s not like a pure comedy, because you still have those … touches some pretty dark subjects and some pretty scary monsters, but it’s more of … I like to compare it to like ’80s movies, like Goonies, and Ghostbusters, and Back To the Future. Like, that sort of like, “Oh, it’s a family kind of … ” It’s not dark and gritty," Sandberg promises.

Taking Inspiration From The Character's Entire History

I mentioned at the start of this post that "The New 52" won't be the only run of comics which inspire Shazam! and Sandberg makes it clear that he looked to a multitude of sources when it came to dreaming up the character's live-action world for this movie.

"Yeah, I wanted to incorporate a little bit of everything, not just in 52, but the older stuff as well, which is … The suit is one part of that where it’s like, “Yeah, I want the shorter cape of like the Golden Age comics.” But then we … And like, “Let’s try the hood from the new 52.” And little things like that, and trying to balance it. So we have things and references from the old comics, but a lot of the story takes inspiration from the new 52. So it’s a combination of like, “Oh, I like this, and we like that, and let’s put it together."

That definitely sounds like the correct approach because even though Shazam doesn't have the biggest fanbase, there are a lot of readers out there who have enjoyed his adventures across different eras and not just what Johns has done in recent years.

It's A Standalone Adventure

Warner Bros. has really changed its approach to these DC Comics adaptations since Justice League was released and that means everything is no longer connected and setting up a bigger story.

So, like Aquaman before it, you'd best believe that Shazam! is being billed as a "standalone" movie. "[It's] very standalone," Sandberg explains. "Like, you don’t have to have seen any of the other films, because it’s its own contained story really. Yeah, it’s just more the world of it that’s part of it."

Like it or lump it, that appears to be the case for each of these movies moving forward.

Why Mark Strong Decided To Play Dr. Sivana

Bringing Strong back to the DCEU can't have been an easy feat for Warner Bros. given his experience working on Green Lantern so what was it that convinced the actor to suit up as Dr. Sivana?

"I think because he is a proper, in the New 52 incarnation that Geoff’s [Johns] done, he is a proper supervillain," Strong explains. "He gets to fly, he can create electric fields in his hands and fire electricity. I love the whole notion that in his eye he has seven sins that manifest themselves at various points whenever they or he wants them to. So, it’s a good, proper supervillain."

Black Adam Was Never Going To Appear

At one point, the plans was for Shazam to go head to head with Black Adam but Dwayne Johnson seemingly convinced the studio to give his character his own movie and have them meet somewhere down the line. As far as Sandberg is concerned, there was never a plan for the anti-hero to show up when he came on board to direct.

"Yeah, when I came on board, it was like, “Yeah, we’re doing a standalone Shazam movie.” Yeah, and I know they’ve been sort of … The project has I think has existed in various forms before, but I haven’t really … I’m not really familiar with all of that." Is he protesting a little too much? Expect to find out for sure this April.

What To Expect From The Movie's Actual Villain

So, there may not be plans for Black Adam to appear but what exactly is the deal with Dr. Sivana?

According to Strong, he'll have a variety of powers and will be a true force to be reckoned with.

"I think because he is a proper, in the New 52 incarnation that Geoff’s [Johns] done, he is a proper supervillain," the actor says. "He gets to fly, he can create electric fields in his hands and fire electricity. I love the whole notion that in his eye he has seven sins that manifest themselves at various points whenever they or he wants them to. So, it’s a good, proper supervillain."

Why The Movie Is Set During Christmas

We're getting what may be our first real Christmas comic book movie courtesy of Shazam! but what led to the decision to set the movie during that period when it's going to hit theaters in April? Sandberg offers a pretty convincing and interesting explanation.

"It’s a lot about family and Christmastime and this family holiday. And it’s about like finding your family with these foster kids and everything. So yeah, it was just very appropriate for the story. It just meant that we had to shoot it here in winter, which has been pretty brutal. Shoot it all on location during nights, because they were like … They were telling me like, “If you shoot the carnival during the day, you get more kid hours, everything will be easier.” And I was like, “Well, it’s not gonna look good with all the lights and everything.” So yeah, so we’ve been shooting it during the nights and it’s been pretty miserable."

Why Doesn't The Movie Take Place In Fawcett City?

Fans of Shazam will know that many of his adventures take place in the fictional Fawcett City so why exactly does this movie take place in Philadelphia? Well, that's something Sandberg did choose to take from Johns' run during "The New 52" era of storytelling.

"Well, we went with Geoff Johns’ idea. I think he picked Philly because of Benjamin Franklin and all of that stuff. And the thing about Shazam, or Captain Marvel, is it’s been different … It was Fawcett City at some point, but I think originally, it was New York, and like it’s been … So it’s not like, “Oh, it has to be Metropolis or something.” It can be anything really."

The Shazam/Dr. Sivana Dynamic

In the recent TV spot released for the movie, eagle-eyed fans noticed that someone who may very well be a young Dr. Sivana was seemingly visiting the Rock of Eternity. That points to a change to his origin story and may mean he was once deemed unworthy by The Wizard. Strong seemingly confirms that with his comments about how things play about between the villain and Billy Batson.

"He can’t understand," the actor explains. "Because there was the opportunity there that he could be the champion of good but was rejected because he was considered not to be worthy. It’s a source of total incomprehension why this boy should have been chosen over him. But, it just justifies him in his quest to unify the good force and the evil force and be in control of all of it."

Many thanks to Collider for the quotes used throughout this article.

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60 Comments

1 2

Ronan3Accuser - 1/24/2019, 6:08 AM

Quartzo - 1/24/2019, 6:11 AM

And it's like...yeah

Ha1frican - 1/24/2019, 6:32 AM

I really hope it’s not too goofy. That recent trailer looked a lot better to me but I’m still unsure about Levi as Shazam it doesn’t seem like him and Billy are the same person he seems more like a kid when he’s Shazam than when he’s Billy. I really liked the New 52 version of the character as just like Aquaman that’s what finally brought me around to the character and I do wish they’d take it a LITTLE more serious and dark but we won’t know until we see it how it turns out. What I liked about the New 52 version was they took a lot of the silly elements of Captain Marvel like Billy being and all American goody two shoes and turned it on it’s head but acknowledged it in the same way they did with Aquaman by making fun of his perception but openly but then making him a badass. Hopefully they preserve that and don’t go too campy which the first trailer made me feel like they were going too far into

soberchimera - 1/24/2019, 6:40 AM

I'm kind of irked that they're pretty much just making Sivana into Black Adam, he's supposed to be a mad scientist not a sorcerer.

Battabing - 1/24/2019, 8:56 AM

@soberchimera - He's a mad scientist who dips into sorcery, and it doesn't go well for him.

Also, as we've seen in the comics, Sivana has, at times, usurped the power of Shazam to become a Marvel, himself.

There's usually a comic book precedent for choices DC makes in their films.

Kurne - 1/24/2019, 6:57 AM

I'm really curious as to how they're gonna use him going forward in the franchise. Feels like the next time we'll be able to see Billy in any capacity, he'll be in college or something already.

And not just going by the actors age, but WB's release schedule.

RegularPoochie - 1/24/2019, 7:02 AM

RegularPoochie - 1/24/2019, 7:07 AM

@Poochie - Also I knew that he will command the even sins with that crystal ball. This movie is gonna be good.

Moochoman - 1/24/2019, 7:05 AM

I can't wait for this movie to come out. It looks like a lot of fun.

Now give me the next trailer! It was supposed to come out last Saturday, then got changed to Tuesday. Still nothing. When is it coming out?!

FireandBlood - 1/24/2019, 7:06 AM

Problem with giving Savana all the same powers as Shazam now is if and when Black Adam does butt heads with Shazam, it’ll be a retread of sorts.

But this is DC/WB, so this simple kind of forethought is foreign to them.

Battabing - 1/24/2019, 8:59 AM

@PlusUltra - Except it's from the comics. It'll be okay.

FireandBlood - 1/24/2019, 9:02 AM

@Battabing - And? Doesn’t change the fact having two separate villains with the exact same power set fighting against the main hero (and his family) with the exact same power set in two separate movies is uninspired and somewhat redundant.

Super12 - 1/24/2019, 7:06 AM

Can't wait for this movie. So glad they're not shying away from any DCEU connections. I think the "standalone" movie within a shared universe is the perfect approach.