Bill Birch, the co-writer of the upcoming “Shazam” feature film has revealed that Ryan Reynolds was his first choice to portray Captain Marvel on the big screen.
“I always thought Ryan Reynolds would have been interesting but now that he’s Green Lantern that’s not an option,” Birch told Cinefools. Birch also elaborated on whether he believes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is still onboard to play Captain Marvel’s nemesis, Black Adam.
“My rule of thumb is that no actor is committed to do a movie until the first day of shooting is over with,” Birch explained. “I know that ['Shazam' Director] Pete Segal and Dwayne have a relationship that was solidified when Pete directed 'Get Smart.' As far as him being committed? I'm sure it'll all depend on the script.” Read more...
Both Marvel Comics and DC Comics have a Captain Marvel to their name, but only one of these companies has publicized plans to bring its character to the big screen—with the help from one of the comics industry's finest writers, Geoff Johns.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the "Green Lantern" comic book scribe is teaming up with writer Bill Birch for "Shazam!," an adaptation of DC's Captain Marvel. Birch is credited as the main writer, with Johns pitching in to co-write. Peter Segal will direct the film. Read more...
Last we heard anything about DC/Warner Brothers' plans for a live-action movie based on Golden Age comic book hero Captain Marvel (often referred to by the character's power-imbuing cry of "SHAZAM!"), screenwriter John August had very publicly announced "it won't be happening" -- but producer Michael Uslan subsequently hinted that there still might be some life in the project. So, when "Race to Witch Mountain" star Dwayne Johnson (previously announced as playing the hero's nemesis, Black Adam) arrived in town to promote his new film, we had to ask him for a "Captain Marvel" update.
"I think we're starting from page one," Johnson told MTV News. "From what I know talking to [director] Pete Segal, there were creative differences between the script that came in and what the studio's ideas were." Read more...
DC's Captain Marvel has the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules and various other attributes that provide an acronym for "SHAZAM!" (the word that transforms Billy Batson into Captain Marvel) -- but what about his ability to make a move to the big screen? After the on-again, off-again project seemed to fall back into limbo last week when screenwriter John August said the Captain Marvel/Shazam film "won't be happening," the film's producer Michael Uslan told MTV News that fans shouldn't abandon hope of seeing the hero in theaters.
"I will only say one thing -- and all I will do is quote Samuel Clemens to you," hinted Uslan. "This is direct from Captain Marvel himself: 'The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.'" Read more...
While most of Warner Bros' movie attention whenit comes to comics properties has been focused on "Batman 3," "Watchmen," "Green Lantern" and a few other projects that are either set to hit theaters soon or are on the fast track to development, one potential film -- "Shazam!" -- seems to continually get lost in the shuffle. And according to "Shazam!" screenwriter, John August, there's a pretty good reason for that.
"['Shazam!'] won’t be happening," August said in an extensive post on his blog, offering insight to the production which a little over a month ago made headlines after announcing the property had moved from New Line to Warner Bros. proper. "I don’t think it’s on the studio’s radar at all. It may come back in another incarnation, with another writer, but I can say with considerable certainty that it won’t be the version I developed." Read more...
It looks like we may be hearing the triumphant cries of "Shazam!" a lot more in the near future, as Variety reports today that the a film adaptation of "Captain Marvel" (the DC Comics version, just to clarify) has been making some serious moves at Warner Bros. lately.
In the Variety piece, Warner Bros. has signed up director Peter Segal ("Get Smart") and his Callahan Filmworks partner Michael Ewing to a three-year first-look deal. While that may leave the average comic movie fan scratching their head and saying, "...and this is comic news because...?," Variety makes note that, as part of the deal, Warners have also acquired rights from New Line for an adaptation of "Captain Marvel" as part of the deal, to which Segal has long been attached. Read more...
The Rock and us have shared quite a relationship for the superhero flick "Shazam." Back in September, Mr. Johnson asked our readers to decide which of the film's characters he should suit up for. Then in November, he accepted the fans' judgement and announced he would play the villainous Black Adam. Now it's nine months later, so what's the latest?
When we caught up with the affable star at Comic-Con, he discussed diving deeper into the character as he waits for the film -- from "Get Smart" director Pete Segal -- to get the official go-ahead. Hear what he had to say in the video below, and then click here to watch even more of our Comic-Con coverage.
Banished by the great wizard Shazam for abusing his powers, Black Adam spends 5,000 years traveling through the universe to exact his revenge. Surely, then, a few more years won't be too much of a hassle.
Based on the popular characters from the "Captain Marvel" comic series, "Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam," is still a go, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson told MTV News at Comic-Con, but a while away from becoming a reality. Read more...
