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Update: October 29, 2017
Dragonlord Editorial: Zachary Levi as Shazam and the SHAZAM! Movie
Two days ago, the comic book fandom was shook when it was announced that Zachary Levi was cast as Shazam in the DC Comics live-action adaptation of Shazam! Many voiced their displeasure at the casting since Levi doesn’t have the ideal physique to play the World’s Mightiest Mortal. Some said this is the worst superhero casting decision ever made while a few have declared that the Shazam! movie is doomed to fail.
For those unfamiliar with the character, Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel, is a DC comic book superhero. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "SHAZAM" (acronym of six "immortal elders": Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury), can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight, and other abilities. Shazam is widely recognized as one of the most powerful superhero in the DC Universe, able to go toe-to-toe with Superman or Black Adam.
Zachary Levi is an American actor best known for his role as Chuck Bartowski in the popular spy comedy series Chuck. He has appeared in Heroes Reborn, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel and voiced Flynn Rider in Tangled. Levi is no stranger to superhero films as he played Fandral the Dashing in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
I'll address some of the issues and complaints I've heard regarding the casting and give my own thoughts on the subject matter.
"The casting sucks because he doesn’t look the part physically."
Levi is tall (6 feet and 3.5 inches) which is a plus in portraying a statue-esque superhero. He doesn’t have a muscular physique but it's nothing a visit to the gym can't fix. Even muscular guys like Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman have normal builds when they're not filming a superhero movie. To prepare for his role in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, The Office star John Krasinski gained 25 pounds of muscles after 4 months of training. Shazam! is set to start shooting in Feb. 2018 (4 months from now), just the right amount of time for Levi to get in shape. Levi won’t probably be muscularly swollen but a buffed or ripped body is a more realistic outcome.
Aside from Levi getting in shape, the Shazam costume will likely enhance his physical appearance and make him bigger or more muscular than he looks. With the right paddings in place, they can make him look as swollen as Ben Affleck’s Batman.
[Personally, my current choice for the Shazam actor would be Brandon Routh. I don’t care if he played Superman before or that he is currently playing the Atom in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow since the DC live-action universe is disorganized anyway. Brandon has all the requirements – height, build, good looks, charisma, amiable, endearing and funny - to efficiently play the Big Red Cheese.]
"I can’t take him seriously because he has a goofy or gentle face."
It’s understandable that people will always associate Levi with his Chuck character which was an awkward, sheepish nerd. Levi is a good actor and like any good actor, they can adapt to almost whatever role they are given. He can look solemn and serious if he wants to, like in the godawful Heroes Reborn miniseries. He also surprised everyone by playing against type when he was cast as the suave ladies man Fandral in Thor: The Dark World.
Levi’s gentle face works in his favor since he is playing a child in an adult body in Shazam! The character needs to display a child-like zeal and wonder as he discovers these awesome powers and learns how to use them for the first time. Shazam will probably at times act immaturely and make an embarrassment of himself. They need an actor that can give off a “gee-whiz” vibe and Levi can pull that off.
"Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam is so much bigger that he’ll make Zachary Levi’s Shazam look like a skinny guy."
This actually works in Shazam’s favor as the good guys generally are smaller compared to their opponents. So when the inevitable showdown between Dwayne Johnson’s intimidating Black Adam happens, it will give off an underdog aura to Shazam and will make their fight that more interesting as Shazam struggles to overcome his more physically imposing adversary. Everybody loves an underdog. Think Iron Man versus the Iron Monger, Batman versus Bane, or Thor versus Hulk.
"This movie is going to bomb and will ruin the DC Extended Universe."
This might just be the optimist or futurist in me talking, but I foresee Shazam! will surprise everyone how fun and enjoyable it will be. The premise and the casting lead me to believe that this will be a family-style, action-comedy adventure in the same vein as some of the Marvel Studios’ fun, lighthearted films mixed with Tom Hanks' Big. Shazam! is likely going to be the first and most Marvel Studios-type film the DCEU has produced so far. Put it this way, I have more faith in the Shazam! movie than in the upcoming Aquaman solo movie.
In closing, I don’t really blame or begrudge anyone that does not like the casting, which I totally understand where they are coming from, nor am I trying to force anyone on changing their minds (well maybe open up just a little). I just have a different perspective from most people and predict that many of the doubters will change their tune when WB unveils an official image of Levi in the Shazam costume many months from now. History suggests that what may be initially be an uncoventional pairing (Michael Keaton/Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and a few more) ended up being a great casting. The last time I did this type of editorial was way back in 2010 when a lot of posters were complaining when Chris Evans was announced as Captain America and I wrote my piece basically saying that I think he'd be good in the role and that people should give the former Human Torch a chance. Seven years later, everything seemed to have worked out for the best.
Dragonlord Editorial: Zachary Levi as Shazam and the SHAZAM! Movie
Two days ago, the comic book fandom was shook when it was announced that Zachary Levi was cast as Shazam in the DC Comics live-action adaptation of Shazam! Many voiced their displeasure at the casting since Levi doesn’t have the ideal physique to play the World’s Mightiest Mortal. Some said this is the worst superhero casting decision ever made while a few have declared that the Shazam! movie is doomed to fail.
For those unfamiliar with the character, Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel, is a DC comic book superhero. He is the alter ego of Billy Batson, a boy who, by speaking the magic word "SHAZAM" (acronym of six "immortal elders": Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury), can transform himself into a costumed adult with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, flight, and other abilities. Shazam is widely recognized as one of the most powerful superhero in the DC Universe, able to go toe-to-toe with Superman or Black Adam.
Zachary Levi is an American actor best known for his role as Chuck Bartowski in the popular spy comedy series Chuck. He has appeared in Heroes Reborn, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel and voiced Flynn Rider in Tangled. Levi is no stranger to superhero films as he played Fandral the Dashing in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok.
I'll address some of the issues and complaints I've heard regarding the casting and give my own thoughts on the subject matter.
"The casting sucks because he doesn’t look the part physically."
Levi is tall (6 feet and 3.5 inches) which is a plus in portraying a statue-esque superhero. He doesn’t have a muscular physique but it's nothing a visit to the gym can't fix. Even muscular guys like Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman have normal builds when they're not filming a superhero movie. To prepare for his role in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, The Office star John Krasinski gained 25 pounds of muscles after 4 months of training. Shazam! is set to start shooting in Feb. 2018 (4 months from now), just the right amount of time for Levi to get in shape. Levi won’t probably be muscularly swollen but a buffed or ripped body is a more realistic outcome.
Aside from Levi getting in shape, the Shazam costume will likely enhance his physical appearance and make him bigger or more muscular than he looks. With the right paddings in place, they can make him look as swollen as Ben Affleck’s Batman.
[Personally, my current choice for the Shazam actor would be Brandon Routh. I don’t care if he played Superman before or that he is currently playing the Atom in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow since the DC live-action universe is disorganized anyway. Brandon has all the requirements – height, build, good looks, charisma, amiable, endearing and funny - to efficiently play the Big Red Cheese.]
"I can’t take him seriously because he has a goofy or gentle face."
It’s understandable that people will always associate Levi with his Chuck character which was an awkward, sheepish nerd. Levi is a good actor and like any good actor, they can adapt to almost whatever role they are given. He can look solemn and serious if he wants to, like in the godawful Heroes Reborn miniseries. He also surprised everyone by playing against type when he was cast as the suave ladies man Fandral in Thor: The Dark World.
Levi’s gentle face works in his favor since he is playing a child in an adult body in Shazam! The character needs to display a child-like zeal and wonder as he discovers these awesome powers and learns how to use them for the first time. Shazam will probably at times act immaturely and make an embarrassment of himself. They need an actor that can give off a “gee-whiz” vibe and Levi can pull that off.
"Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam is so much bigger that he’ll make Zachary Levi’s Shazam look like a skinny guy."
This actually works in Shazam’s favor as the good guys generally are smaller compared to their opponents. So when the inevitable showdown between Dwayne Johnson’s intimidating Black Adam happens, it will give off an underdog aura to Shazam and will make their fight that more interesting as Shazam struggles to overcome his more physically imposing adversary. Everybody loves an underdog. Think Iron Man versus the Iron Monger, Batman versus Bane, or Thor versus Hulk.
"This movie is going to bomb and will ruin the DC Extended Universe."
This might just be the optimist or futurist in me talking, but I foresee Shazam! will surprise everyone how fun and enjoyable it will be. The premise and the casting lead me to believe that this will be a family-style, action-comedy adventure in the same vein as some of the Marvel Studios’ fun, lighthearted films mixed with Tom Hanks' Big. Shazam! is likely going to be the first and most Marvel Studios-type film the DCEU has produced so far. Put it this way, I have more faith in the Shazam! movie than in the upcoming Aquaman solo movie.
In closing, I don’t really blame or begrudge anyone that does not like the casting, which I totally understand where they are coming from, nor am I trying to force anyone on changing their minds (well maybe open up just a little). I just have a different perspective from most people and predict that many of the doubters will change their tune when WB unveils an official image of Levi in the Shazam costume many months from now. History suggests that what may be initially be an uncoventional pairing (Michael Keaton/Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and a few more) ended up being a great casting. The last time I did this type of editorial was way back in 2010 when a lot of posters were complaining when Chris Evans was announced as Captain America and I wrote my piece basically saying that I think he'd be good in the role and that people should give the former Human Torch a chance. Seven years later, everything seemed to have worked out for the best.