Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have released a new Shazam! picture that offers the first look at Asher Angel as the 14-year-old Billy Batson who eventually gets the powers to turn into an adult superhero in the film. The picture, released by Entertainment Weekly, features Billy standing with his foster home friend Freddy Freeman, played by Jack Dylan Grazer, who is a big fan of all the superheroes in the DC universe.
Well, the new picture also teases something more important. A closer look at the picture shows a Superman hat, a Batman action figure, and some DC comics on display. There’s also a Time magazine on the shelf background featuring General Zod’s ship, Black Zero, on the cover. Behind Freddy’s head at the top right of the image, there’s a page tapped on to the bedroom wall from the Daily Planet newspaper declaring Superman’s return.
The clues are enough to come to the conclusion that Shazam! indeed shares connections with the DCEU. You can check out the picture below.
Unlike other photos that were released, the new pic has mostly received positive vibes from the DCEU community. Fans are happy that the film shares ties with Batman v Superman, Justice League and other references to the extended universes. Check out fan reactions to the new photo below.
In the film Shazam!, Batson is a normal teenager whose life changes completely after he meets a mysterious Wizard (Djimon Hounsou) on a subway ride. The mysterious wizard’s search for his successor ends on the teen to whom he grants his array of magical powers including the power to turn into a full-grown superhero by just saying the magical word- Shazam.
“He’s misunderstood, he’s mischievous, he’s been a foster kid since he was 5 years old and really has no one to trust,” Angel said about his first big screen character during an interview with EW.
The actor revealed that right from the moment he started auditioning for the role he started practicing the delivery of his character’s power word.
“Oh my god, I can’t even tell you how many times I practiced saying it!” Angel said. “My family and friends are asking if I’ll ever get sick of saying ‘Shazam!’ I’ll never be sick of it. Ever.”
Shazam! will open in theatres on April 5, 2019. The film’s first trailer is likely to be unveiled at this week’s San Diego Comic-Con 2018 event.
A DCEU film that actually pays respect to Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL & BATMAN v SUPERMAN?
SHAZAM!, you had my curiosity… but now you have my attention… pic.twitter.com/JJEl1TNyRA
— Jesabel (@JesabelRaay) July 17, 2018
We are in a timeline where a Shazam film will have had more ties to Man of Steel than Justice League did. Yikes
— Sheraz Farooqi (@SherazFarooqi_) July 17, 2018
For anyone who still doesn’t believe that #Shazam is set in the #DCEU: you’re welcome. #Superman #Batman pic.twitter.com/2cf7zUXR4l
— Andy Behbakht @ SDCC (@AndyBehbakht) July 17, 2018
So cool! Just in case there were any doubts that #Shazam was taking place in the same shared world as previous #DCU films…this image should obliterate those doubts.
Just look around 👀 pic.twitter.com/aioerTOeWI
— Revenge of The Fans (@RevengeOTFans) July 18, 2018
New #Shazam photo of Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman. They're big Superman fans. What if they were the kids interviewing Superman in the beginning of #JusticeLeague? pic.twitter.com/oJKD6EQQhB
— Batman-News.com (@BatmanNewsCom) July 17, 2018
Billy Batson’s friend, Freddy Freeman, has a Cavill Superman hat and a Batfleck batarang.
I love this so much.
These are their heroes. #Shazam pic.twitter.com/chkJA8NO3v— ムquawhore🔱 (@SindarOath) July 17, 2018
Shazam already respected Man Of Steel and Batman V Superman more in a single photo than Justice League did in 2 hours pic.twitter.com/R6kd5EI2GH
— chandler (@CinematicEX) July 17, 2018
MY MAN FREDDY FREEMAN IS AN AQUAMAN STAN. #SHAZAM pic.twitter.com/s7n3O2hk50
— ムquawhore🔱 (@SindarOath) July 17, 2018
This kind Snyder DCEU influence struck me was like…… " #Shazam "! pic.twitter.com/2bHwY5Xtqo
— Fiona Zheng (@fukujang0627) July 18, 2018
Source: EW
