‘Shazam!’: Dwayne Johnson And Movie Producer Talk DCEU – No Concerns With DC Film Receptions
The Shazam! movie is on the horizon and fans may wonder what place does it have in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe). It will be a movie adaptation based on the DC comics publication and it was in 2014 that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was announced to play Black Adam in the movie. There had been talks of him playing the role for almost a decade, according to Slash Film. The producing partner and manager to Johnson, Dany Garcia, spoke with Newsweek and from there gave their insight on the placement of the hero in the DC Extended Universe.
The only thing that is known about Shazam! is that he’s based on a character that once went by the name of Captain Marvel. His alter ego is a boy named Billy Batson and whenever he calls out, “Shazam!” he’s transformed into a grown version with powers. The movie is being released in 2019 with Johnson taking on the Black Adam role. In the comics he’s an anti-hero, but it’s unknown how he’ll be portrayed in the big screen version.
There is no concern about how well received the Shazam! movie will be as their focus is trained on “all fronts” of the flick.
They head off their production company Seven Bucks Productions along with New Line Cinema which is a division of Warner Bros. What sets it apart from the rest of the Warner Bros. superhero movies is that it’s going to have a different set-up with a whole different crew, but exists in the same world as the DCEU.
“Shazam! is to live in the same world [as the other films] but we have incredible autonomy over this brand and franchise. We are working with a different team, different producers, directors… it’s a different set-up.”
With the recent line of DC movie criticisms, it looks like Garcia and Dwayne are confident that their Shazam! project will go unfettered regardless of the performances of other Warner Bros. projects.
“We don’t feel fettered by, or constrained by, the successes or failures and challenges of the other projects. That was a key component to our participation—that we be able to control the tone and the voice, and do it the way we want to.”
Dwayne Johnson is a fanboy himself, so it looks like the movie could very well meet Shazam! fan expectations. In an interview with Total Film, Johnson is aware of what he can bring when it comes to these roles.
What is the source of #BlackAdam's powers? https://t.co/tevFnfzB4L pic.twitter.com/MCm4rhHjKW
— Captain Marvel (@Capt_Marvel75) July 16, 2016
“I am a certain way and my wiring is my wiring. My DNA is my DNA and when I step on set and on screen, I’m aware of what I’m able to bring to a character.”
So with the Shazam! movie, it looks like with Dwayne’s awareness of what he can bring along with the non-constraint they have on the project, this could bode well with fans’ expectations.
The movie project hasn’t moved forward much yet as there has been no real casting announced with little development. However, Garcia says she doesn’t mind taking it slow. So it does sound like a good idea that they are taking the process on methodically with drafts of scripts coming in.
“We’re getting [script] drafts in… it’s important to make sure we get the tone right for Black Adam, which is Dwayne’s part. We don’t mind taking our time. We’re being very careful with each act and scene to go back and layer in as much as possible.”
The Shazam! movie is scheduled for April 5, 2019, with writing credits going to Geoff Johns, Bill Birch, and Darren Lemke. So how close do you think the talents of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will come to Shazam?
[Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Images]
