Mark Strong seems all set to essay the role of the DC Comics villain Doctor Sivana in New Line Cinema’s upcoming adaptation of the DC’s superhero Shazam.
The Wrap has exclusively learnt that Mark Strong is in talks to portray the villainous Doctor Sivana in Shazam movie, to be directed by David F. Sandberg, who helmed the horror films Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation.
Strong is not new to playing a villain nor is he unknown to DC since he had previously played the role of villain Sinestro in Warner Bros’ 2011 release Green Lantern. At the time, the post-credits scene had set up his character as a villain in a future sequel. In the year 2009, Doctor Sivana was ranked as IGN’s 82nd all time greatest comic book villain.
Doctor Sivana is Shazam’s archenemy. The story is loosely based on DC Comics’ the New 52 books, and Sivana is featured as a respected scientist who works hard to save his family from some unknown plight. Sivana turns to magic after Science fails him. While trying to open the tomb of Black Adam, the scientist is half-blinded by the magical lightning that comes out of it. The side-effect of the light allows him to see the magic.
Mark Strong, who won an Oliver for A View From the Bridge was last seen in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. He will also be seen in Fox Networks Groups eight-part espionage thriller Deep State.
Shazam is the story of a young boy named Billy Batson, who can transform himself into an adult superhero by just uttering the magic word “Shazam.” Though this character came into being in the late 1930s, the DC banner took over the character only in the 1970s.
The lead role of Shazam will be played by Zachary Levi. Shazam’s script is written by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke. The film is expected to hit the theaters in April 2019.
Source: The Wrap
