Warner Bros./DC Extend Universe shave roped in child actors Ian Chen and Jovan Armand to play the role of Billy Batson’s friends (Eugene Choi and Pedro Peña respectively) in their upcoming superhero film Shazam!.

Ian Chen (Fresh Off The Boat) and Jovan Armand (Bella and the Bulldogs) will join the cast of Shazam! movie, to be directed by New Line’s David F. Sandberg. Producer Peter Safran (Annabelle: Creation) will reunite with Sandberg for this film.

While Chen will play the role of Choi, Armand will essay the character Pedro. Both these characters are Billy’s foster siblings and friends in the comics, and both like other friends and family members of Shazam will end up eventually acquiring their own powers.

Zachary Levi will play the title role of Shazam/Billy Batson in the film. Asher Angel will essay the role of the younger Billy Batson. Jack Dylan Grazer will play his friend Freddy Freeman. Chen and Armand’s character will also be included in his friend circle.

Written by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke, Shazam movie revolves around a young boy named Billy Batson. Billy can transform himself into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word “Shazam.”

Zachary Levi had late last month remarked that Shazam! will do for DC Extended Universe what Guardians of the Galaxy did for Marvel. Sandberg had promised more casting news last week, and it seems by the looks of it that more news will follow soon.

While the movie was initially considered to be a light-hearted family friendly movie, the addition of horror film veteran Sandberg raised questions in the minds of Shazam fans. While none of us know as yet how exactly the movie will turn out to be, it is certain that young Billy Batson and is foster family will have a key role to play in the film.

Shazam! movie is scheduled to release in theaters sometime in April 2019.

Source: Deadline