I’ve always liked the Captain Marvel character, especially with the Kingdom Come storyline (by the way, if DC ever really wants to make a multiple hero movie with their characters… then it really should be Kingdom Come). The problem is, as rumors have been circulating the last couple of years about a Shazam movie, I just can’t help but think he’s a little too similar to another DC hero (Superman) to really work or be taken seriously. Yes, the personalities are totally different… but look at the two of them… a flying guy in a cape with super speed and strength. I think movie audiences would raise an eyebrow to it…. but I could be wrong about that.
Anyway, the latest rumor about a potential Shazam project is that possible inclusion of The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) as the hero. The good folks over at Coming Soon give us this:
So who’s going to play the DC Comics man of red and yellow – not The Flash? Well, it could be none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. Today, during a visit to the set of Get Smart, Johnson was wide eyed when the very idea was brought up to re-team with director Peter Segal in the feature, Shazam! According to Johnson himself, he’s spoken to Pete about the role. “Yeah, he did. Listen, John August is writing the script and he’s a tremendous writer, and I’ll just wait for the script to come in. But I’d love to work with Pete again, and certainly would want to work with John August. So there’s a strong possibility.
I know I’m going to be shot for saying this… but you know what… I like it. Think about it for a second. The casting of The Rock in this role would be a massive point of distinction from the Man of Steel… that’s a good thing here since I fear the similarities and comparisions between the two characters would be a weakness for the film. And while The Rock is hardly a master thespian… he probably has the most pure explosive and natural charisma of anyone working in movies today. The guy was born to play a superhero role.
It’s ok for a Superhero movie to not be “DARK”. It is ok once in a while to just have a fun comic book movie (without it just being stupid slapstick)… and I think The Rock as Shazam could help that. What do you think?
A fun bit of stunt casting would be to cast Detroit/Cleveland TV legend “The Ghoul” in a cameo as an on-air personality at station WHIZ. See website http://www.theghoul.com
Brandon Molale is lobbying to play Capt Marvel. He really looks like the character. There is even an on-line petition supporting him.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/284585003
Agree. The Rock should be cast as Namor.
That photo of the Rock at the top of this article sure looks like the Sub-Mariner to me!!!!
John, I’m disappointed in you, egging on the simple minded Hollywood powers that be with this Rock rumor. The Rock is all wrong for Shazam, and you know it. Everyone knows it. However, the Rock is 100 percent perfect to play Namor The Sub-Mariner. That is brilliant casting, and that is the rumor you should be spreading!
Casting the Rock as Capt Marvel is all wrong…perhaps he should be considered for the sequel to the Shaq movie “Kazaam”. That I would understand. But for “Shazam” (a totally different franchise, for many of you who seem confused on the subject), I think Daniel Cudmore (“X Men 3”) would be perfect to play Capt Marvel. If a more known “star” is required, I can see Ashton Kutcher in the role. As for the title character Shazam, Omar Sharif is the perfect choice, although I’m intrigued by the thought of Michael Keaton in the role. On a personal note, I would love to see Micky DOlenz (“Head”) cast as Uncle Dudley. And as all Shazamaholics know, Elvis was a Capt Marvel fan, so his music should be on the soundtrack (“If I Can Dream” would be a perfect theme song).
JaySmack:
But Billy in an indespensible part of the Captain Marvel character.
Having the rock play Billy would suck almost as much as having Kate Bosworth play Lois Lane.
Thes second biggest mistake they could make would be to focus on the Billy persona. Hell, I’d like it better if Rock was both the Billy and Shazan personas.
Kids in movies rarely work, and kids in comic book movies don’t work at all.
The biggest mistake they could make would be to add humor to this movie. It would as bad as the Shazam movie with Shaq. This needs to be in the same mold as Th Mummy or Indiana Jones. Humor sprinkled throughout the film, but mostly a movie that hews closely to the adventure side of the action/adventure equation.
And the The Rock’s acting is pretty good, IMHO. Rundown was the best performance he’s given. Delivery needs some work, but he’s been getting progressively better with each film.
The Rock as SHAZAM…… It dosen’t sound half bad (notice how I only said half)
The Rock is a terrible actor, only slightly btter than James Marsden or Kate Bosworth…
But seriously…
I think a Shazam movie would be great. The Captain Marvel character has a lot of unique characteristics, and most of the serious acting would be done by whichever 12 year old thespian they get to play Billy.
All The Rock would need to do is deliver lines boldly and smash monsters.
I agree with you on that Kristina, The Rock can’t act out of a paper bag.
Then in that case Jarred, I’m sorry for sounding like that, but if we were talking face to face, what I’m actually saying would come out more clearer.
I love The Rock. He is a piece is ass. He cannot act very well. That is all.
When fans say they want their comic book films darker, I think they really mean that they want the material to be taken seriously. No winks, no shrugs, no “it’s just a comic book” cop-out. Don’t comment on the medium or genre; just tell the story.
I’d love The Rock to play Captain Marvel (though I agree that he’d probably make a much better Black Adam). He should be almost bigger than life, someone a kid would immediately think of as a superhero, not an angsty, “he could be one of us” type of figure. And I think The Rock could pull that off really well.
Blaze87, according to who? You? The guy is a fan and fanboy. So am I. I don’t always agree with him, well, at least 50% of the time, but disagreeing doesn’t mean I’m out of touch, or that he’s out of touch.
Sorry man, but you’re coming across like you think you have your finger on the pules of fans and he doesn’t. Maybe I’m wrong and you don’t mean to come off as that, but you are.
This can be the greatest superhero movie since the first Superman. Especially if they handle the comedy/drama correctly. I think Dwayne can
do drama very well if coached. He can definitely hold his own with comedy. Please God do not let them make a slapstick comedy out of this.
Jarred, I’m just saying that he does’nt know WE think, I never said I was better, I’m saying he’s confused about fan philosophy.
I like this too.
Shazam’s only chance of success as a film is if a very heavy-handed HUMOROUS angle is taken. Otherwise it’s just too ridiculous. It has to be presented almost as a PARODY of Superman and the superhero genre as a whole.
The Rock’s charismatic, over-the-top, FUN-first persona is a perfect match. Just as wrestling audience’s had a good time taking The Rock’s bragging and silly catchphrases waay too seriously, I would think that his very presence in this film could cause audiences to actually champion an idea that seems so hokey.
While I’m not saying this film should be an all-out comedy like “My Super Ex-Girlfriend”, it would do well to play up the camp, at which The Rock would do well.
Didn’t mean to suggest you said people would be confused, thats just how I read it, my bad.
But if one of the two was to appear lame it would be Supes, especially after Superman Returns, kids (and most people in general) suffer from various forms of ADD, and where Superman came off boring (which it was) Shazam should really appeal to the kids. A boy who can, with a word, become a hulking super hero, I think it’s going to go over really well, especially when that super hero is as well known as the Rock.
Nord
Yeah Blaze87. Campea only spends his day talking to thousands of movie fans everyday for years. You clearly know better than he does about how fans think *rolls eyes*
As far as Rock goes, I agree with most of you. He would be a breath of fresh air in the whole comic genre circle. I also think captain marvel would be accepted a little more than you think though John.
Campea, you don’t know how fans think. When they say “dark” they mean serious and it was’nt just the picture of Iron Man that people got excited for, it’s been the news, but why should care anyway? You’re just coming from the movie side of it.
This works for me.
As for “fans” wanting darker fare in comics to film adaps: I’m not convinced of that too much. Like it or hate it, Fantastic Four was a hit (and I think 2 will be better) and the first two Spidey films had a lighter, if not customer friendly tone, and they worked out well.
Then there’s The Mask, Men In Black….
I can see Rock doing this, but I hope he doesn’t do it like ‘Doom’, but more along the lines of comedy action in ‘Rundown’ (I kind of liked Walking Tall as well-to a point) and his surprisingly good acting in ‘Gridiron Gang’.
Love the idea of the Rock as Shazaam.
Dwayne “I’m not just the Rock anymore” Johnson has charisma and screen presence to burn and I think he would fit perfectly into a lighter take on the superhero genre.
Plus, like Nord said, the guy has impeccable comedic timing which, again, would be perfect for the direction this movie seems to be taking.
I say, bring it on.
I think this casting works. A lot better than that Routh guy they got to play Superman.
I think that this could be great, especially if the presence of the Rock makes for a more action oriented super hero film. The Rock has kind of grown on me as an actor, and I’ve always liked the DC version of Captain Marvel.
I don’t think Shazam would suffer from comparisons to Superman for 2 reasons:
1. The last Superman movie was a soap opera not an adventure.
2. There hasn’t been a good (or even mediocre) Superman movie since Superman 2.
This came out of nowhere, but I like the idea.
I would have sooner picked the Rock to play ‘Black Adam’ rather then Shazam, but the more I think about it the more this casting works.
You know, I just got back my copy of “The Dark Knight Strikes Again”, and Captain Marvel has always been a sort of backbench favourite of mine since I was a kid. I never agressively sought out anything Shazam! related. There is a point in this book, where my childhood sort of dies, and it makes me very sad for some reason.
On a lighter note, I don’t think the Rock does a lot of great movies, but I like what he does, and The Rundown was surprisingly fun. His turn in “Be Cool” was a hoot too.
This would totally work for me.
i can actually see the rock being the big red cheese. i would have to agree, comic book movies don’t need to be dark, just have a good story and lots of action. and hot chics wouldn’t hurt either ;)
Hey Nord.
Really? The similarities end at nothing but tights and cape? Ummm… are you serious? Two character… both big white males… both have the power of flight… both have super speed… both have super strength….
and I never once said it would “Confuse” people. I’ve always said people would find it LAME. Especially with another Superman movie coming out.
Don’t get me wrong… I’ll see it… and it could even be really good. But on its surface, I think generally people will cringe.
i’d have to agree…i don’t mind the rock as well
but it seems john that comics fans always want “dark” films. i’m one of the few you liked FF, and i couldn’t stop from hearing that it was too chessy, and had too many funny parts, and doom wasn’t dark enough, and I wondered if any of these people ever read a FF comic book.
i haven’t been around here for the spider-man 3 talkback, but from what I’ve skimmed, it wasn’t good, but again some of my friends hated it for taking a scene w/ dancing in a movie that was marketed as spidey’s darkside, as if they never read a spidey book…this chracter is the most annoying character in the marvel U, this is the same guy who makes fun of villians while fighting them, but a scene where he’s obviously taken over by another force, plus it’s a movie catered for KIDS as well as adults is hated between fandom
i fear that if captain marvel has funny parts, or if it’s not marketed right away as a kid-friendly film…fandom will just hate it
The comparisons begin and end with the tights and cape. If thats your only problem there are A LOT of other super heros in tights and cape.
I don’t think a single person would ever become confused between Superman and Shazam, and if they did, theres a village somewhere missing their idiot.
That said, Im totally pumped about this idea, The Rock is awsome, I just saw him in Reno:911 last night doing a cameo, and action star with perfect comedic timing, a rareity indeed.
Nord