The Shazam movie has been one of the longest percolating projects on DC's film roster. One challenge in bringing this classic character to life will be the age of Billy Batson. I would think that they would want to get someone young enough that they can make a few sequels him if the first movie is a success. You don't want Captain Marvel's "kid" side already needing to shave by the time the third film rolls around, after all.
That's a very good point...although at this point from DC, I'd take a single good movie with no chance of a sequel if that's what it takes for them to put some real quality on the screen...
ReplyDeleteLove the Hyperion/Marvel faceoff, by the way!
well it WOULD be nice if they could really call him captain marvel without marvel having a hissy fit....lol....damn trademark rules.
ReplyDeleteAs Billy "Fernando" Crystal might say:
ReplyDelete"This...looks...MARVEL-ous!"
Another very well-layed out cover, the way the Cap and Hyperion images so seamlessly integrate with each other.
ReplyDeleteAlways a sucker for Squadron Supreme stuff as well.
I was just thinking last night, wondering if DC had ever thought to approach Marvel about selling a portion of the Captain Marvel trademark so they could go back to using that name without so much hassle. Most likely, though, Marvel would ask for some ridiculous sum that would make the process less than worth it (such is the nature of big-market business in modern-day America).
ReplyDeleteAs to your comments here, Ross, almost no matter who they get, they'll be looking at someone for Billy Batson who's likely to need to shave by the third movie. In the comics, at least originally, Billy was eight years old; if sequels happen every three years, that would make him 14 by the time that hits. (That said, I think sequels are managing every two years these days, aren't they? If so, Billy would only be 12 by Shazam 3, so that could work.
I do love his match-up, though, and the art is very well chosen and well-treated -- it looks like a unit piece, drawn just for the occasion.
I was also thinking last night that a team-up between Captain Marvel and Prime would make an interesting story; not only are the two characters' powers very similar, so are their secret identities.
Whoops... the preceding Anonymous was me. #RedInTheFace
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT cover, Ross. Great theme, great composition, great background. Your comment regarding an actor to play Billy Batson is also very astute. I always thought of Billy as being in the range of about 12 to 14 years old, but you're right. If they hire an actor that age, he'll be too old by the third (maybe even the second) sequel. However, with today's special F/X they might be able to get around it. I'm thinking of the computer generated scenes of young Tony Stark in the Civil War movie. Perhaps they could have the same actor playing Billy at age sixteen but have him come out looking twelve on screen....
ReplyDeleteMy big fear regarding the Shazam movie is that they will lose the essence of what makes the original Captain Marvel such a unique character in the first place. I've found most of what they've done with the Marvel family characters in the mainstream DC universe for about the last ten years to be dreadful. I thought he was handled well in the JLU television series though, so their is hope....
Bob, this anonymous is me
ReplyDeleteHey Ross are we going to see Squadron Supreme vs Crime Syndicate? I picture Ultraman and co. appearing on another parallel Earth to conquer, only this one is defended by the Squadron Supreme whom they've never met, but still seem sort of familiar!
ReplyDeleteI'd buy that team-up in a heart beat, Bert. :-D
ReplyDeleteIf this crossover actually were published, I suppose the cover title would have to say "Squadron Supreme and Shazam" instead of "Squadron Supreme and Captain Marvel." If I understand correctly, DC could legally use the name "Captain Marvel" in the strip itself, but not on covers or in merchandising.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, DC has ruined Shazam/Captain Marvel by making Billy Batson into a punk, and by trying to fit the series into the same grim-and-gritty universe as Batman, Deadman, Spectre, and Phantom Stranger. Although I wouldn't mind seeing the Shazam/Marvel Family (and/or Plastic Man) in crossovers with Batman '66, Wonder Woman '77, or even Scooby-Doo.
In the 1970's DC comics, it was stated that the kids (Billy Batson, Mary Batson, and Freddy Freeman) were all 14.
ReplyDeleteA lot of young actors and actresses look younger than they really are. (In Hollywood, there is probably some demand for young adults who can play teenagers in sitcoms on Nick and the Disney Channel. They can work full time without violating child labor laws.) I doubt if many adults could convincingly play 14, but if the characters are allowed to age a few years, maybe some stars at 19 or 20 could still play Billy as 16 or 17.
Besides the trademark glitch, DC may not have been eager to publish a comic with the name of their biggest competitor on the cover.
Supposedly, DC changed the hero's name to Shazam because they thought it would be confusing to have the main character's name different from the title. But I've never heard of any fans getting confused, or trying to figure out which characters were named "Action," "Adventure," "Detective," or "Mystery In Space."
Anonymous
ReplyDelete"But I've never heard of any fans getting confused, or trying to figure out which characters were named "Action," "Adventure," "Detective," or "Mystery In Space." "
'Mr Action' = Jimmy Olsen...
^_^
I could never work out which one was the Brave and which one was the Bold.
ReplyDeleteWell, except for the Batman-oriented team ups. The Caped Crusader was obviously the brave one!
ReplyDeleteP.S. to Anonymous #1---Capt. Shazam vs. Red Anvil's Mighty Titan would be better. Primes's not as well proven a commodity (to me, anyway).
ReplyDeleteOne curiosity is that in their Defenders appearance, the Squadron was labeled as being on 'Earth-S.,' making this very credible (I think the Squadron were filling in the gap while the Marvels were all in caught in Suspendium).
ReplyDelete