We have two new images fromShazam!that have magically surfaced online. Warner Bros. is currently doing their best to steer the DC ship in the right direction following last year’s disappointing release ofJustice League. But withAquamancurrently tearing it up at the box office and pleasing moviegoers all over the world, there is newfound hope for the DC universe. Next up isShazamwhich looks to keep the tone light and these new images, in part, speak to that. But what’s a superhero without a little evil to counterbalance him?
The first of the two new images sees our titular hero, played by formerChuckstar Zachary Levi, meeting face-to-face with the evil Doctor Sivana, played byMark Strong, who is no stranger to portraying bad guys on the big screen. Up to this point, we haven’t seen much of Doctor Sivana in the marketing and this shot looks to be taken from the same encounter featured in the first trailer released over the summer. But what we do know is that he appears to be equally as powerful, making him a formidable first foe forShazamto face off against.
Another new image is a bit more lighthearted in tone, as we seeShazamhanging out with his pal Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) in his bedroom. The two appear to beexploring the new powersthat have been bestowed upon Billy Batson (who will be played in his younger version by Asher Angel). The hero is holding a large glass of water and, speculating a bit, he may be seeing if he has any powers comparable to that of his fellow DC hero,Aquaman. The trailer also featured sequences with the hero discovering what powers he has, including a couple of robbers shooting at him, only to find that he’s bulletproof.
David F. Sandberg, the filmmaker behind horror hits such asLights OutandAnnabelle: Creation, isin the director’s chair for the DC Comics adaptation. While it may seem like an odd fit to put a director known for his horror efforts at the helm of a lighthearted comic book flick, Sandberg has proved to Warner Bros. that he knows how to make a very financially successful and well-liked movie. And that, above all else, is very important. Financial success is always key with blockbusters, but when it comes to the DC brand at this time, reception is more important than ever.
Next year will also see the release of theJokerorigin movie, which has Joaquin Phoenix playing the Clown Prince of Crime in a movie that will not be connected to thecurrent DC moviesand will, instead, stand on its own.Birds of PreyandWonder Woman 1984are on deck for 2020. So Jared Leto’s Joker is still hanging around somewhere.Shazmais set to arrive in theaters on July 01, 2025. Be sure to check out the new images fromEmpirebelow.
