Lightning Power
They say lightning never strikes twice but for DC Comics writer Geoff Johns, apparently it does. Recently announced to be producing and co-writing The Flash live-action film for Warner Bros., it’s now being reported by Variety that he’ll be co-writing the Captain Marvel film Shazam! for them as well.
Actor/writer Bill Birch will serve as the other new writer on the project. The same director, Peter Segel (Tommy Boy, Get Smart) is still attached. Originally being developed over at New Line, Shazam! has had numerous writers working on drafts in the past such as John August, William Goldman, Bryan Goluboff, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. According to Variety the team of Johns and Birch will be starting fresh. “The studio is now looking to go back to the original DC Comics source material for inspiration,” they said.
With all the Marvel films that have been produced recently, it’s very exciting to see several DC properties finally moving forward. It’s about time! And seriously, they couldn’t have picked a better writer to hire. I’m curious as to where they are going to take the Shazam! story. I’m sure it will be Billy Batson’s origin but will they bring in Black Adam at all? Mary? Tawky Tawny?? For the record, I’m still pulling for The Rock to play Black Adam. I know some people think he should play Captain Marvel but I just don’t see that at all. What do you think of the news and who do you think should play Captain Marvel/Billy?
Yeah if they don't have two different actors for the role that would be really weird.
Arnold Vosloo is pretty awesome too.
I don't know about the Captain, but Arnold Vosloo's performance in the Mummy makes me think he'd likely hit a good note for Black Adam. I like Captain Marvel a bit bulkier than Adam. Probably from my enjoyment of the Ordway Power of Shazam books.
As much as i would like to see this movie made, it has permanent development hell written all over it, i hate to say. but it would be nice to see him on the big screen. nobody give this character the respect he deserves.
However, Shazam may not work for this generation – not if they stay true to the comic.
I'm afraid they're gonna lose faith in trying to sell the concept to a modern audience, & they're gonna try to "update" it, or change the costume, etc.
I mean…c'mon! do you really see the kids of this day & age getting into "the big red cheeze"?
Oh weird, I thought I'd heard somewhere this was going to be a TV series. A film is MUCH better.
I definitely think they would want two actors to play the title characters. A kid to play billy Batson and an adult to play The Big Red Cheese.
If Superman Returns hadn't been such a dismal failure, I would say that Brandon Routh would be a good choice for Cap. I remember thinking he would be a better Captain Marvel than a Superman when he was first cast for SR.
As far as Billy Batson goes, I don't have too much of an opinion. Any kid from a hit CW TV show would be OK in my book.
This can only end badly
I agree that The Rock would be nothing short of perfect for Black Adam. He has the tan and that endless smile that you never know whether to trust it or not because hey, this guy can kill you. Finding a lily white version of him for Shazam might be like finding a needle in a haystack. I know a costumer who would be perfect it; Danny Kelly that appears at Metropolis every year as various versions of Superman but it's a dream to move from fan to movie star like that.
I would love to see Mary in it too.
When I heard this last night, I admit to getting excited. I think the Rock would make a better Black Adam than he would Captain Marvel.
And considering Johns' love of the character, I am sure that Black Adam will be among the villains used. I would say Sivana would be the other primary one too.
As far as Mary or Freddy go, I would say better to add them in for a sequel or two if the first one does really well. Cap had been a successful solo act for quite some time before Mary and Junior came along. And that's both when the character was in the Golden Age at Fawcett and when relaunched post-Crisis at DC.
And Tawky Tawny? Well, I love the character and would love to see him play maybe a Jiminy Cricket/advisory role, but I don't know really how that would fly today.