Shazam was one of the first DC Extended Universe movies to be announced back in late 2014, but since then there have only been sporadic updates on how the project is progressing. Fortunately for fans of the World's Mightiest Mortal, it looks like this adaptation is finally starting pick up steam. Following the news that Shazam will reportedly begin production early next year, It's finally been confirmed that director David F. Sandberg will helm the movie.
It was reported back in February that Warner Bros was eyeing David F. Sandberg to direct Shazam, and while being interviewed by Kevin Smith for IMDB at San Diego Comic-Con, Sandberg casually confirmed that he will indeed be the one in the director's chair. Sandberg didn't divulge any other details about Shazam other than that "it's coming along pretty well." Sandberg is best known for the horror movies Lights Out and the upcoming Annabelle: Creation, so stepping into the DCEU to oversee the adaptation of one of DC's more unique superheroes will be new territory for him. THR is also reporting that Sandberg's Annabelle: Creation collaborator, Peter Safran, is in negotiations to produce Shazam.
Shazam will introduce the DCEU's Billy Batson, who, like his comic book counterpart, can transform into an adult superhero when he says the word "Shazam." Once in his Shazam form (the hero was known as Captain Marvel before the New 52 relaunch), Billy boasts abilities represented by mythological figures: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury. Beyond those basic elements, no official Shazam plot details have been disclosed. Outside of the comics, Shazam's other appearances include his own live action TV series from the 1970s, Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Young Justice, Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam, Justice League: War, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis and Injustice: Gods Among Us.
Aside from who will play Shazam, the biggest question surrounding the upcoming movie who the hero will battle. Around the same time that Warner Bros announced the initial DCEU slate, it was confirmed that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will play Black Adam, one of Shazam's greatest enemies. However, it was announced earlier this year that Black Adam will lead his own movie, and the current rumor going around is that Black Adam won't appear in Shazam, though that's not to say those two couldn't clash in a hypothetical Shazam 2. Assuming this Black Adam information is true, that gives the lightning bolt-adorned titan's other most prominent antagonist, Doctor Sivana, a better chance of making the jump to the big screen.
With shooting expected to begin in early 2018, Shazam will hit theaters sometime in 2019, and will presumably be the DCEU movie to follow Aquaman, which comes out on December 21, 2018.
