‘Shazam’ details: set in same world as ‘BvS’ and DC films, no Zach Snyder involvement
Zack Snyder may be the initial creator setting the tone for the DC Cinematic Universe as director of Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League, while co-producing (and sometimes co-writing) Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Flash, but that appears to be ending. Shazam will be set in the DC Cinematic Universe, but producer Dany Garcia says an entirely different team is working on it behind the scenes
“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,” Garcia told Newsweek.
“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. It needs to be of the world.’
“You’ve got Justice League, Wonder Woman with a different director, so you’re going to see different points of view. I think by the time we land with [Shazam!] we’ll fit nicely within the world that’s been created, but not such a shorthand relationship. [It’ll be] enough that people say, ‘Oh, this is within the family,’ but the culture will be a little different.”
Little is known about the film except that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star as Shazam’s arch-enemy, Black Adam. Johnson is also co-producing the film.
According to Garcia, things are moving forward slowly to ensure that the project stands out from other superhero franchises and stays true to the tone of the story.
“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,” Garcia explained. “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.”
“We’ve got so many wonderful superhero franchises out there… we don’t need to run away from them and say ‘we can’t be that,’ but it’s important to understand what are the best aspects of a Batman [movie] versus Avengers versus Deadpool? What are the elements people are responding to? We want to move the needle.”
Shazam! is scheduled for theaters on April 5, 2019
