Shazam: Zachary Levi cast in Warner Bros. and DC’s film

Zachary Levi has been cast to play Shazam in the David F. Sandberg’s upcoming solo film.

Shazam is well on its way to the big screen, as director David F. Sandberg is currently overseeing pre-production. While we do have some details on the film’s tone and production, there had not been any casting announcements. Well, that’s about to change, as Warner Bros. and DC have finally found an actor to play the titular hero.

THR is reporting that Zachary Levi has been tapped to play the role of Shazam (Captain Marvel). The actor beat out both John Cena and Joshua Sasse, who were both reportedly in the running. With Levi’s casting, he is the first known actor to join the project.

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Levi is has had a relatively succesfful acting career. He’s mostly known for his comedic roles particularly in the NBC series, Chuck. However, he’s also very familiar with the superhero genre. Most fans probably know him for his role as Fandral in both Thor: The Dark World and Ragnarok. The actor is also a longtime fan of comic books and even moderates panels at San Diego Comic-Con.

This casting is an interesting one to say the least. One factor that might have helped Levi land the role is his comedy experience. Shazam is one of the more humorous characters in the DC Universe, and Sandberg has promised a lighthearted film.

With pre-production just ramping up, this is sure to be the first of a string of cast additions. A recent casting call hinted that the whole Marvel family would even make an appearance. It’s hard to predict who will be the next to join the project, but we’ll definitely be waiting with anticipation.

Next: David F. Sandberg reveals comic inspirations for Shazam

Shazam is slated to hit theaters in April 2019.