SHAZAM MOVIE GETS A WRITER

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/movies/Shazam.jpg" border="0" align="right">DC Comics’ Shazam property has taken a step closer toward making it on to the big screen, as <i>The Hollywood Reporter</i> (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10035 56240) today announced that John (<i>The Burton’s The Corpse Bride</i>) August has been hired to write the film version of the character. Peter Segal will direct, and will co-produce with Michael Ewing.

<i>From THR</i>:

"It's a unique opportunity to do a comic book movie where the character in it actually read comic books," said August, who has started writing the script. "What's terrific about the character is that he looks like this superstudly superhero but is really a 13-year-old boy. And to approach everything that is great about a superhero movie from a 13-year-old boy's perspective was a unique way in."

August sat down with noted DC Comics writer Geoff Johns for "idiot checking," making sure the filmmakers' approach to the character was consistent with what fans love about him. "I think we're going to be able to be really faithful to the mythology and yet make it completely transparent for people who have no idea who the character is," August said.

Chris Godsick and Michael Uslan ("Constantine") are executive producing.

Gregory Noveck is overseeing for DC Comics. Mark Kaufman and Daryl Freimark are overseeing for New Line.

At August's blog (http://www.johnaugust.com/), he wrote about the experience:

And now, the answer to speculation about why I was busy reading up on DC Comics mythology. As announced today in The Hollywood Reporter, I’m writing Captain Marvel. And I’m very, very stoked.

The movie is set up at New Line, with Pete Segal attached to direct. For those who aren’t rabid fans of the character, here’s the briefest of introductions.1

Captain Marvel is a superhero roughly as powerful as Superman, minus the heat-vision and cold breath.2 What’s unique about the character is that in ordinary life, he’s teenager Billy Batson. Speaking the name of the wizard who gave him his powers (Shazam) calls down a magic thunderbolt, transforming him into the studly superhero. But he’s still a teenager in there.

If this to you sounds, “Like Big, but with superpowers,” then congratulations! You now understand Hollywood.

The process of getting hired to write it has taken months. It started with a call from my agent, asking, “Hey, have you ever heard of Captain Marvel?”

The answer was an enthusiastic yes. I was vaguely aware of the character growing up,3 but it wasn’t until the character’s recent resurgence in the DC Comics universe that I started paying attention. Not more than a month before my agent’s call, I’d read a JSA and thought to myself…Someone should make a Captain Marvel movie. And now they were.

Pete Segal and producing parter, Michael Ewing, had already signed on, so the next step was meeting with them and figuring out if we shared the same tone for the movie. It’s not Spider-Man plus jokes. It’s a comic book movie where the characters in it read comics. The story needs to be funny and dramatic even if the villain never shows up. (Don’t worry, there’s a great villain.)

Once we agreed on the framework for the movie, Geoff Johns from DC was gracious enough to come in and idiot-check it for us. Having witnessed the uproar over Spidey’s organic web-shooters, we were all sensitive towards cavalierly changing things. Fortunately, Captain Marvel is pretty movie-friendly already, so we hadn’t bent or broken any mythology.

Between my time at Sundance and Pete’s prep schedule for his next movie (Get Smart), it took weeks to get a meeting with New Line. Going in for the pitch, I was warned that there would be a lot of people in the room. But I wasn’t prepared for the fact that four of the attendees would be sitting in by videoconference. It was incredibly awkward, but I got through it. And I got the job.

In my head, the movie’s called Captain Marvel, but for legal reasons, it will almost certainly be some variation on Shazam! I grumble because people will inevitably assume that the hero’s name is Shazam, when it’s not — Shazam is the old wizard. It’s like calling the Harry Potter movies “Dumbledore.” Then again, the hero isn’t a Captain, and doesn’t live in the Marvel universe. So you’re going to have confusion either way.

I can already anticipate the natural questions which will come up, most of which I can only answer, “I don’t know” or “I’m not allowed to say.” And I should re-iterate the standard disclaimer: most movies don’t get made. But I’m really hoping this one does.

[DeTroyes]

*sigh*

Another DC project that probably will never get past the pre-production stage.

Not holding out much hope that this will ever get made.

EDIT: FIRST!!

[Grendel Rose]

Faithful and transparent. My two favourite words.

[ROBRAM89]

The director scares the holy hell out of me, but I like this news. John August can do great work.

[bsmith]

Too bad William (Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride) Goldman's script wasn't used, I'm sure it was going to be great. But nice to see this moving forward regardless.

Only note: will someone get Michael Uslan off of this thing?? I seem to remember his name attached to a lot of bad DC projects....and the one he did do that was great (Batman Begins) I'm not sure how much if anything he had to do with it, other than holding the rights for a minute...

Bsmith

[vbartilucci]

You know who has the right face for Cap? Adrian Pasdar. And he's already used to flying.

Further casting notes to follow

[Kolimar]

WOO-HOO!!! :D :D :D

Finally some movement after all this time. :) :) :)

[artiepants]

*sigh*

Another DC project that probably will never get past the pre-production stage.

Not holding out much hope that this will ever get made.!
yeha, now-a-days when i see DC movie announcements i wonder how long until the get canceled. (yet Catwoman got made >>>shudder<<<)

[Gamma Duck]

I'd feel a little better if he'd fact-checked with Jeff Smith. :p

[Kolimar]

The Complete List of DC Comics Movies (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61596) :p :D ;)

[Stazz]

Hey, this is relieving. Last I heard before this announcement, the guy who directed Adam Sandler's movie "Anger Management" was rumoured to be directing.

[aeast317]

sounds good...we'll see when it gets made.

[cncoyle]

I just wish Freddie Mercury were still alive. A SHAZAM! movie really should have a Queen-produced soundtrack, a la Flash Gordon.

[The Spirit]

this movie could have potential

[Excelsior!]

Here's hoping that "CAPTAIN MARVEL" will make it into the title somewhere...


...seeing as that's his name... :rolleyes:

[New Way]

does anyone else think this movie should be animated?

maybe something more along the lines of the Incredibles.

[JohnPopa]

August tells a slightly more detailed story at his blog www.johnaugust.com.

He also laments the inevitable title of 'SHAZAM.'

[Dave Accampo]

Hey, this is relieving. Last I heard before this announcement, the guy who directed Adam Sandler's movie "Anger Management" was rumoured to be directing.

Uhhh...yeah, and he still is. ;)

[Fletcher]

A Shazam movie?
It would be cool to see if they did him in the vein that Dematteis, Giffen and Mguire did him.
But really I want a Green Lantern movie!

[MattBrady]

I just wish Freddie Mercury were still alive. A SHAZAM! movie really should have a Queen-produced soundtrack, a la Flash Gordon. that's one of the more inspired things I've read on this board.

MattB

[avengingtitan]

I just wish Freddie Mercury were still alive. A SHAZAM! movie really should have a Queen-produced soundtrack, a la Flash Gordon.
You sir are a genius.


Save that I'll never say it again Nate. :D

[Kevin Ryan]

And I should re-iterate the standard disclaimer: most movies don’t get made. But I’m really hoping this one does.

Oh man, I really hope this works out. I enjoyed "The Corpse Bride" a lot, and I'd love to see Cap become the mainstream character he's deserved to be for years. And if he's written like he has been the past few years, a Black Adam spinoff would be really cool.

The naming restrictions suck as always, but it's not too bad. After all, the titular character in "Lord of the Rings" was the villain, and that one turned out okay. :)

[antillestk]

that's one of the more inspired things I've read on this board.

MattB

Amen brother. Amen.

You know even though the Flash Gordon movie was rather lame(but when you're a kid it's cool as hell), the sound track rocked the high heavens.

I so miss Freddie Mercury.

[TigerGot'Em]

Peter Segal is directing? :rolleyes: Sounds like we're in for more of a KAZAAM than a SHAZAM.

[ROBRAM89]

You know, if it's well-written and well-cast, I don't care who directs it. If he doesn't interfere with the script or give the actors horrible direction (and pay them too well to ignore it), what can he do? The worst that could happen is that he gets more famous for it, and there are more Peter Segal movies made because of it...as horrifying as that might be.

OK, to be fair...he's made, of note...Naked Gun 33 1/3, which wasn't THAT much worse than the other two...Tommy Boy, which you can't help but laugh at, come on...umm, Nutty Professor II was crap compared to the first, but still...Anger Management and 50 First Dates, both reasonably good by Adam Sandler standards...and The Longest Yard, and let's be fair, a prison football comedy? Did that have a chance?

I don't like that he's pretty much directed 100% straight comedies until now, and they're giving him what, in a perfect world, is pretty much a lighter, more fantastical Superman movie, but hey...I do like John August.

[astronato]

Great news!

Not that I matter but here are my Captain Marvel movie wants.....

I hope they take some queues from Jeff Smith's Monster Society of Evil on how to make everything contemporary while still conveying what was was cool about the Captain Marvel universe all along. It sounds like they want to be faithful.

I also hope the movie isn't simply Shazam! I'd prefer Power of Shazam! or some variation like that.

And I hope Captain Marvel doesn't talk with a kids voice. Like he did in JLU.

I have my finger's crossed. Good luck!

I still say DC should make a direct to dvd Captain Marvel movie based on Jeff Smith's Monster Society. Or get Pixar or Hayao Miyazaki to make it. Money in the bank! ;)

[ROBRAM89]

Umm, aren't they only like two issues into that Monster Society thing? Why is everybody talking about it like it's the best thing to ever happen to CM?

[BanMan]

does anyone else think this movie should be animated?

maybe something more along the lines of the Incredibles.

A big screen animated Captain Marvel would be great in my opinion, and though I'm not so big on the CGI stuff these days, the kids seem to love it.

[EMeadow]

You know who has the right face for Cap? Adrian Pasdar. And he's already used to flying.

Further casting notes to follow

Sorry, Cap naked, sleeping in a cardboard box, and going his way up the corporate ladder just doesn't appeal to me.

I can't see Pasdar doing ANYTHING nice since Profit. Even on Heroes he's not really all that nice.

[Supreme Convoy]

I was just reading about John August! I love Big Fish which he wrote (though I could care less for his Charlie & The Chocolate Factor).

[Hypestyle]

they'll probably have to negotiate with Marvel to license the "Captain Marvel" name for toys and what have you..

I hope the film does get made..

I hope Black Adam is the villain..

But what about all the talking tigers and what not? should they be in the films?

[PhilipAMoore]

Here's hoping that "CAPTAIN MARVEL" will make it into the title somewhere...


...seeing as that's his name... :rolleyes: It can't Marvel Comics copy wrote the name and trade marked it they just did not do that with the character. That is why the book is called SHAZAM it is also the only reason a kree fighter would have the english monacker Captain Marvel . ;)

they did the same thing with Marvel Man that's why Alan Moore wont work with them same with Spider woman it was to stop a cartoon series

good day

[dixon64]

I think with the announcements they have made so far there is no point in delaying this project. Just throw the roles in a jar and who ever picks them gets the part. It's just not shaping up very well when the people who are writing and directing are know for comedy. I got feeling I wont be going to see this movie. And it will go fast to DVD, if it is not finalized as a straight to DVD movie.

[von Doom, M.D.]

I think with the announcements they have made so far there is no point in delaying this project. Just throw the roles in a jar and who ever picks them gets the part. It's just not shaping up very well when the people who are writing and directing are know for comedy. I got feeling I wont be going to see this movie. And it will go fast to DVD, if it is not finalized as a straight to DVD movie

Pessimism FTW!!

dude, lighten up. If you've ever read a Cap comic, you'd know it's more light-hearted anyway (although I hope Black Adam is a bastard in this movie). For some reason, people have this attitude of almost being ashamed of the comic book roots of these characters, and to make them appealing, they have to darken them and make them gritty or something. Cap's not a dark character, and it doesn't have to be dark to be a serious movie. It can be fun and light-hearted. In fact, it should be. Even still, I wouldn't mind a comedy, since Captain Marvel is a concept that could easily be mined for comedy gold.

[Royal Nonesuch]

Sorry, Cap naked, sleeping in a cardboard box, and going his way up the corporate ladder just doesn't appeal to me.

I can't see Pasdar doing ANYTHING nice since Profit. Even on Heroes he's not really all that nice.



He played a nice guy on Judging Amy.

[GeorgeG]

This needs to be CGI. A complete live action movie won't get this movie done.

[Happyhatter]

Here's hoping that "CAPTAIN MARVEL" will make it into the title somewhere...


...seeing as that's his name... :rolleyes:



"SHAZAM! starring Captain Marvel"

That sounds about just right... :D

[Lex]

Sat down with Geoff Johns? That worries me. Don't get me wrong, Geoff's cool and all... but he's not who I would pick for knowledge about everything that makes Captain Marvel a great character.

I would've picked someone like Jeff Smith. He's able to capture everything that makes Cap fun and cool.

[Lex]

This needs to be CGI. A complete live action movie won't get this movie done.
CGI. Maybe. In my opinion, regular animation would be perfect.

[Lex]

Umm, aren't they only like two issues into that Monster Society thing? Why is everybody talking about it like it's the best thing to ever happen to CM?
Because Jeff Smith is getting it right in every way possible. You could see that even from the very first issue.

[iyamwhatiyam]

Umm, aren't they only like two issues into that Monster Society thing? Why is everybody talking about it like it's the best thing to ever happen to CM?

Because it is. It blows every other attempt since Binder and Beck. It's definitely the most gorgeous rendition.

[Inactiveman]

does anyone else think this movie should be animated?

maybe something more along the lines of the Incredibles.

YES!

I've been thinking that for years!

[JLAJRC]

This needs to be CGI. A complete live action movie won't get this movie done.

I tend to agree. It would be kinda silly seeing a live actor going against a CGI worm with glasses. That would make the audience break out in laughter (and not the good kind).

[ROBRAM89]

I think we're missing the substantially larger problem, i.e., people are going to see him as what he was originally...Magic Superman. Especially if the villain is Sivana, and let's face it, it'll either be him, somebody else's villain, a new villain, or a friggin' caterpillar, which people won't go for.

[astronato]

Mr Mind is one of the all time greatest villains. An evil inchworm is genius....and surreal.

[Inactiveman]

My picks for a title would be:

"Shazam's Champion: Captain Marvel"

or

"Captain Marvel: The Wizard's Champion"

Those titles would distinguish it from the Marvel namesake.

[beetlebabe]

Can they actually call the movie "Shazam?" IIRC, there's already a movie out there by that title, that hideous one about Shaq as a genie that lived in a boom-box.

[ROBRAM89]

Mr Mind is one of the all time greatest villains. An evil inchworm is genius....and surreal.

Speaking of which, I don't know what he'd be in (WW? He did start out with her), but I would LOVE to see the 52-era Egg-Fu in a movie.

[rwe1138]

Sounds promising. Hope it happens.

[superboy072]

In my head, the movie’s called Captain Marvel, but for legal reasons, it will almost certainly be some variation on Shazam! I grumble because people will inevitably assume that the hero’s name is Shazam, when it’s not — Shazam is the old wizard. It’s like calling the Harry Potter movies “Dumbledore.” Then again, the hero isn’t a Captain, and doesn’t live in the Marvel universe. So you’re going to have confusion either way.



I would rather see it named "Captain Marvel" as well, but it shouldn't hinder success. "The Legend of Zelda" series has been one of the most successful video game series ever, in spite of the fact of the confusion that the whole thing focuses on Link.

Hell, Zelda isn't even always in the games.

[KidFurious]

I hope it's not live action. This would be much better as a Pixar style film that could be larger than life without an actor to play the part so that it takes on a life of its own.

[Equinox]

http://www.celebopedia.com/mark-ruffalo/images/mark-ruffalo.jpg

Mark Ruffalo FTW as Cap.

We need a leading man who could play a thirteen year old believably without hamming it up. Ruffalo is totally the guy for the job, and he'd only need to bulk up a little bit to have the build.

[ROBRAM89]

Cameron Bright and Patrick Warburton. End of story.

[ROBRAM89]

We need a leading man who could play a thirteen year old believably without hamming it up.

No, we don't.

Captain Marvel and Billy Batson don't have much in common. Between the wisdom of Solomon and the courage of Achilles, etc., he's pretty much an adult. Some of his personality carries over, but not enough to cast somebody because he can act like Billy Batson.

[Equinox]

No, we don't.

Captain Marvel and Billy Batson don't have much in common. Between the wisdom of Solomon and the courage of Achilles, etc., he's pretty much an adult. Some of his personality carries over, but not enough to cast somebody because he can act like Billy Batson.
And I argue: yes, we do.

All the Wisdom of Solomon does is give the bearer the ability to think faster, think wiser, think smarter. It's like giving a thirteen year old Stephen Hawking's brain capacity. That doesn't make the boy any less a boy; he's now just a SMART boy. And the Courage makes it so that he's not as afraid in combat.

Hopefully John August went back and read the old C.C. Beck stories. That's where the real gold is; in those books there's no difference (mentally) between Cap and Billy. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON. Turning into Cap doesn't mean Billy matures all of a sudden; he's just a kid in the body of an adult.

See also Giffen and DeMatteis' JLA run, and The Power of Shazam! by Jerry Ordway for better examples.

[Fletcher]

Cameron Bright and Patrick Warburton. End of story.



I don't know whwo Cameron Bright it but working on another poster saying that this movie would be cool if done in an Incredibles Pixar style then Warburton would defintily have to do the voice over. That would be freakin sweet!

[Michael D.]

WARBURTON it is. He even squinted most of the time in Seinfeld just like CM!

For Billy Batson, let's go with Verne Troyer in a black wig.

[Kolimar]

I just wish Freddie Mercury were still alive. A SHAZAM! movie really should have a Queen-produced soundtrack, a la Flash Gordon.

That would have rocked. :) I miss Freddie. :(

[ROBRAM89]

I don't know whwo Cameron Bright it but working on another poster saying that this movie would be cool if done in an Incredibles Pixar style then Warburton would defintily have to do the voice over. That would be freakin sweet!

He looks like him, too.

Cameron Bright played Leech in X3...he was also the kid from Birth and possibly Bruce Willis' son from Unbreakable, IIRC. I'm not sure how old he is, but he, umm, hasn't seemed to age much recently.

[ROBRAM89]

All the Wisdom of Solomon does is give the bearer the ability to think faster, think wiser, think smarter. It's like giving a thirteen year old Stephen Hawking's brain capacity. That doesn't make the boy any less a boy; he's now just a SMART boy.

I hope none of that is supposed to be true, because if so, the people at DC really have no clue what the word wisdom means. It's a hell of a lot more than computing power.

[capsulezone]

I may get stoned for this, but there's one actor who I think looks perfect as Captain Marvel...

DEAN CAIN.

[Equinox]

I hope none of that is supposed to be true, because if so, the people at DC really have no clue what the word wisdom means. It's a hell of a lot more than computing power.
Well, if you want to be fair, Captain Marvel wasn't created by DC; he was created by Fawcett Comics back in the 30's. DC aquired him in the 70s.

Furthermore, wisdom does not imply maturity. Wisdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom) is the ability to discern truth and excercise good judgement. Think of it as super common sense. Wisdom also pertains to knowledge, hence super-"computing" power.

Wisdom does not equal maturity. Billy Batson is a thirteen year old boy who transforms into Cap; Billy doesn't get REPLACED by Cap. There's a difference.

[Supreme Convoy]

http://www.celebopedia.com/mark-ruffalo/images/mark-ruffalo.jpg

Mark Ruffalo FTW as Cap.

We need a leading man who could play a thirteen year old believably without hamming it up. Ruffalo is totally the guy for the job, and he'd only need to bulk up a little bit to have the build.

Good choice! I could see him as Captain Marvel.

Now who would be a good choice for Billy?

[thunderthief]

Hmm...

'Big with superpowers'?

Methinks this guy has not read Jeff Smith's genre-busting version of SHAZAM!

I can see this movie tanking like Constantine, or being rip-roaringly cute like the Incredibles. The way he seems to be handling it, there's not much hope that it'll be amazing like Spidey 2 or Batman Begins or X2.

But then again, they did get Geoff Johns to sit in and help them, rather than Judd Winick. *shudders*

[Sambo253]

And I argue: yes, we do.

Hopefully John August went back and read the old C.C. Beck stories. That's where the real gold is; in those books there's no difference (mentally) between Cap and Billy. BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME PERSON. Turning into Cap doesn't mean Billy matures all of a sudden; he's just a kid in the body of an adult.



Jeff Smith and Erik Larsen don't agree with you. Both of them have been adamant that the Golden Age Captain Marvel stories had Cap and Billy as separate people. From the one Golden Age Cap story I've been able to get my hands on, I agree with them. Captain Marvel carries himself differently than Billy does.

[GohanWinner]

Cameron Bright and Patrick Warburton. End of story.
I don't know about Cameron Bright, but Warburton is amazingly perfect for the role.

[G Dog]

My picks for a title would be:

"Shazam's Champion: Captain Marvel"

or

"Captain Marvel: The Wizard's Champion"

Those titles would distinguish it from the Marvel namesake.

Oh GOD...PLEASE no!