DC’s ‘Shazam’ Adds ‘It’ Actor Jack Dylan Grazer
TheShazamcast has a new addition:ItactorJack Dylan Grazer, who made a big impression in the Stephen King horror adaptation as hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak. Grazer is set to play Freddy Freeman, the best friend of Billy Batson, a kid who has the power to transform into the superhero Shazam. In the comics, Freddy eventually became Shazam’s sidekick.
Now thatJustice Leaguehas more or less bitten the dust, it’s time to move on to other DC-based films. LikeShazam, for instance.Annabelle: CreationandLights OutdirectorDavid F. Sandbergis helming the superhero flick which tells the tale of an ordinary kid named Billy Batson who is granted the magical ability to transform into a superhero named Shazam. Currently in pre-production,Shazamhas just added a new member to its ever-growing cast: Jack Dylan Grazer, who stole many a scene in this year’s horror hitIt.Deadlinereports Glazer will take on the role of Freddy Freeman, the best friend of Billy Batson.
Freddy is the only person who knows Billy has superpowers, and in the comics, he eventually became Billy’s side-kick, Captain Marvel Jr. (Side note: Shazam’s original name was Captain Marvel, not be confused with Marvel’s Captain Marvel. Over time, the character’s name was changed to Shazam to avoid the Marvel/DC confusion).
Glazer joins a cast that includesAndi Mack’sAsher Angel, playingBilly Batson, andChuckactorZachary Levi,playing Shazam. Go-to movie bad guyMark Stronghas been announced as in talks to play thefilm’s villainDoctor Thaddeus Sivana.Shazamwill be yet another film in the tumultuous DCEU, which, afterJustice Leagueunderperformed at the box office, finds itself at a crossroads.Justice Leagueattempted to interject some humor into the proceedings, but much of it felt forced and was clearly added afterWonder Womansurprised everyone by proving a DCEU film could be fun.Shazam, in contrast, seems to be approaching things with a light touch from the beginning.
Back in 2014, New Line presidentToby EmmerichtoldEntertainment WeeklythatShazamwould “a tone unto itself,” adding: “It’s a DC comic, but it’s not aJustice Leaguecharacter, and it’s not a Marvel comic. The tone and the feeling of the movie will be different from the other range of comic book movies.” Emmerich also saidShazam"will have a sense of fun and a sense of humor. But the stakes have to be real."
Shooting onShazamis expected to begin next year, with a2019release date likely.
