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Shazam! 2019
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Shazam! is a 2019 American superhero film featuring the DC character of the same name. The movie was produced by New Line Cinema, DC Films, the Safran Company, and Seven Bucks Productions, and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. It marks the seventh entry in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The film was directed by David F. Sandberg and features a screenplay written by Henry Gayden, who collaborated on the story with Darren Lemke. The main cast includes Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Djimon Hounsou. In the plot, teenager Billy Batson (played by Angel) is selected by the ancient wizard Shazam (portrayed by Hounsou) to become his new champion. By uttering the name "Shazam," Billy transforms into an adult superhero (Levi), gaining a range of superpowers. Alongside his foster brother Freddy Freeman (Grazer), Billy must learn how to use these abilities in order to defeat the villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Strong) and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Work on a live-action Shazam! film started at New Line in early 2000s, though it was delayed for multiple years. Pre-production began in 2009, with Peter Segal attached as director, John August as writer, and Dwayne Johnson considered for the role of Black Adam. However, that version never moved forward. Johnson later acted as an executive producer on Shazam!. William Goldman, Alec Sokolow, Joel Cohen, Bill Birch, and Geoff Johns were all involved at different stages as writers. The project officially launched in 2014, with Johnson initially set to portray either Shazam or Black Adam. In January 2017, he was chosen to head a solo Black Adam development effort. At that time, Sandberg was hired to direct Shazam!, and Levi joined the cast in October February 2017. Angel was added to the cast the following month. Principal photography commenced in Toronto on January 29, 2018, primarily at Pinewood Toronto Studios, and concluded on May 11.
The film premiered in the United States on April 5, 2019. Critics responded favorably to Shazam!, and it performed well at the box office, earning $367.8 million globally. It was succeeded by a sequel titled Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and a spin-off Black Adam (2022), both of which did not achieve the same level of critical or financial success as the original film.
Trailer
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Cast
- Djimon Hounsou[[Shazam
- Faithe HermanDarla Dudley: Billy's good-natured younger foster sister
- Grace Caroline CurreyMary Bromfield: Billy's mature
- Ian ChenEugene Choi: Billy's younger foster brother
- Jovan Armand[[Pedro Peña
- Marta Milans[[Rosa Vasquez
- Cooper Andrews[[Victor Vasquez
Crew
- Director
- David F. Sandberg
- Screenplay
- Henry Gayden
- Story
- Henry Gayden, Darren Lemke
- Producer
- Peter Safran
- Cinematography
- Maxime Alexandre
- Editing
- Michel Aller
- Music
- Benjamin Wallfisch
Details
- Production
- DC Films, New Line Cinema, Seven Bucks Productions, The Safran Company
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
- Budget
- $90–100 million
- Box office
- $367.8 million
