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The first reactions for Shazam!
Starring Zachary Levi as the eponymous character, Shazam! centres on a young boy – played by Asher Angel – who can transform into a Superman-type hero by saying the word “shazam”.
After screening to press, critics have come away calling the film the best instalment in the DCEU universe – also including Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Aquaman, Suicide Squad and Justice League – yet on Twitter.
Directed by Annabelle: Creation ‘s David F Sandberg, the synopsis reads: “Still a kid at heart — inside a ripped, godlike body — Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test?
“Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong).”
Show all 7 1 /77 actors who could star in the new Batman film 7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Armie Hammer The 32-year-old actor is so perfect for the role of the suave and brooding billionaire that he’s already had the honour of being cast as Batman. Unfortunately, that was back in 2008 when George Miller was set to direct Justice League: Mortal, where he would have been joined by the likes of Adam Brody’s The Flash, Common’s Green Lantern, and Megan Gale’s Wonder Woman. After development went south, the project was indefinitely shelved and the studio instead focused on Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This could be the opportunity to finally make some lost dreams come true.
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7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Oscar Isaac Isaac has already had one rather ill-fated venture in the world of comic books, when he was truly wasted under mountains of blue prosthetics as X-Men: Apocalypse’s chief villain. Batman is a far better fit for the star; his role as Poe Dameron in the Star Wars franchise has proven he’s certainly got the charm and it could help loosen up the character a little, recapturing some of the more cavalier attitude that Michael Keaton brought to the role. Yet, his work in critically acclaimed indies like Inside Llewyn Davis and Annihilation proves he’s also got the presence to continue Affleck’s more jaded take. In short, he’s got the range. At 39 years old, Isaac might be too old for the character producers are currently envisioning, but he’s a big enough household name that Warner Bros might overlook it in this case.
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7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Tye Sheridan Sheridan seems like the most likely candidate if Warner Bros are truly after a fresh-faced take on Batman. At 22, he’s the youngest on this list, but has already made his mark on the Hollywood blockbuster, fronting last year’s epic Ready Player One and starring as Cyclops in the current X-Men series. While Fox hasn’t officially declared that this year’s Dark Phoenix will be the last of the current iteration of the X-Men, with Disney’s takeover of the studio currently looming, it’s doubtful that the franchise has much of a future as it is. This frees up Sheridan to take on a far bigger, heftier comic book character. Plus, his breakout role in 2012’s Mud proved he excels when it comes to delivering gritty drama, which likely fits the tone Reeves is after for his film.
7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Trevante Rhodes Although there’s an impulse to look towards A-list stars when it comes to casting a character as iconic as the Caped Crusader, what DC might actually benefit the most from is an actor who’s not quite a household name yet, but still has the credentials to bring the right level of gravitas to the part. An actor like Rhodes would be perfect in this case. The 28-year-old still technically something of an up-and-comer, but his role in Moonlight proved he has a formidable screen presence, while Bird Box and The Predator showed he’s equally at home in genre fare. Rhodes is also particularly good finding vulnerability in his characters, which could prove to be a great strength if Reeves is after a weightier take on Batman, more in the vein of 2017’s Logan.
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7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Henry Golding The Batman has been pitched as a noir-flavoured take on the character, which could mean that producers are after an actor with a little bit of an Old Hollywood flair to him. If that’s the case, Golding fits the bill perfectly. His roles in last year’s Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favour showed that he's not only one of the hottest rising stars of the moment, but also has charm to spare in a way that could play well for a smooth-talking detective spin on Bruce Wayne. The only unknown factor here is whether the 31-year-old actor, who’s British-Malaysian, could nail the American accent, which he’s yet to do on film. It’s hard to imagine that would be much of a hurdle for him, however, as he’s already proven himself as a major talent.
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7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Aaron Taylor-Johnson The actor might be a little hesitant about returning to the world of comic book movies, considering he’s already starred in both Kick-Ass (the less said about its much maligned sequel, the better) and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Yet, neither of those films really gave the actor an opportunity to test his mettle as a box office champ, so an appearance in The Batman could be just what’s needed to boost his star power to the next level. What the 28-year-old actor really has in his corner, however, is range. Between the likes of Godzilla, Anna Karenina, and Nocturnal Animals, he’s demonstrated a chameleon-like ability to morph into whatever the project demands. It’d be exciting to see what exactly he’d do with Batman, considering the character’s been interpreted in so many different ways in the past.
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7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Jack O'Connell Despite Affleck’s departure, it does seem likely that Warner Bros won’t be keen to take Batman in too radical of a new direction. It might confuse audiences if we’re suddenly delivered with a sillier George Clooney-type (nevermind the fact Batman & Robin crashed and burned) or, say, even an Adam West-esque iteration. We’ve been with a gritty Batman for too long for him to suddenly get the Thor: Ragnarok treatment. In that light, if the studio wants a direct successor to Affleck, then they can’t go wrong with O’Connell. The 28-year-old is a go-to if you want a leading man with the right level of edge and grit to him, thanks to his roles the likes of ‘71 and Starred Up. He’s yet to be really tempted into the world of franchises, outside of a role in 300: Rise of an Empire, which means he also doesn’t have the baggage of already being associated with a particular character.
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Shazam! reaches UK cinemas 5 April.
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