“Shazam!” gets 2019 release date

Warner Bros.-DC Entertainment's superhero movie “Shazam!” has been set for an April 19, 2019 release date.

The film stars Zachary Levi, who plays the titular superhero, and Asher Angel, who plays Billy Batson, a young boy who turns into Shazam when he utters the name. “It” star Jack Dylan Grazer will play Freddy, Billy Batson's best friend. Grace Fulton has been in negotiations to star as one of Batson's friends and Mark Strong has been rumored to be attached as the villain.

David F Sandberg (“Lights Out”) is directing from a script by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke. Peter Safran is producing, with filming planned for this year.

The name Shazam is an acronym of the ancient gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. Batson derives his heroic attributes from those figures when in adult form.

“Shazam!” will be the next DC Cinematic Universe movie to hit theatres following Jason Momoa's “Aquaman”, which will open December 21.

Source: Variety