CinemaCon is currently playing host to a great many DCEU projects, as Warner Bros. gears up for a crucial 18 months for its fledgling superhero universe.
Front and center is Aquaman, the standalone maritime adventure from James Wan and Jason Momoa, who last wielded that famous trident for Zack Snyder’s ill-fated Justice League. It’ll be followed by David F. Sandberg’s Shazam!, before the so-far untitled Wonder Woman 2 caps off Warner’s 2019 lineup next November, six weeks earlier than initially expected. You can thank Star Wars: Episode IX for that one.
Nevertheless, the Powers That Be over at Warner have already screened a vertical slice of Aquaman, much to the delight of those in attendance, and it appears a small, behind-the-scenes preview of Shazam! was also paraded in front of the CinemaCon crowds.
As reported by Heroic Hollywood, the folks over at JoBlo.com have now posted an early preview of said footage, one which draws attention to Zachary Levi’s costume and Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana, the bat-shit mad scientist to be played by Mark Strong.
It’s another Hollywood bad guy that Strong can add to his growing collection, but this time around, things are different: Dr. Sivana appears to have the ability to “force push” people at will. Eat your heart out, Darth Vader.
Via Twitter:
Also, to note, they showed some BTS footage from Shazam! which was similar to what we saw on set. Levi looks great in costume and it’s referred to BIG with Superpowers. Also got a peek at Mark Strong’s Dr. Sivana using his powers to “force push” people. #CinemaCon
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) April 24, 2018
Moreover, this is by no means the first time that Shazam! has been angled as “Big with superpowers,” given it centers on the young Billy Batson as the power of the gods are bestowed upon him by an elderly wizard.
With that in mind, we can readily expect Shazam! to bring about a heartfelt expansion of the DCEU, and fans will be able to lay eyes on the final product once Sandberg’s solo flick begins screening on April 5th, 2019.