Mark Strong is no stranger to comicbook-based work, having appeared as the villain in Kick-Ass and, though we may all choose to forget it, as Sinestro in Green Lantern. He isn't letting the latter scare him away from bad guy duties, as the Kingsman stalwart is now in talks to play Doctor Sivana in Shazam!
David F. Sandberg is directing this latest DCEU entry, which will follow the adventures of teenager Billy Batson, who can become a hero by saying the word, “Shazam!” which grants him the powers of six mythological gods. Originally created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck, Sivana first appeared in Whiz Comics back in 1940 and quickly became the hero's archenemy. In The New 52 reboot run, he's depicted as a respected scientist desperate to save his family from an unknown plight. With science having failed him, he turns to magic – specifically the legend of Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson, who may or may not pop up in the film) – Dr. Sivana's team finds what he believes to be the tomb of Black Adam, yet while attempting to open it, the scientist is half-blinded by magical lightning to the face, which has the side-effect of letting him see magic.
Zachary Levi recently joined the cast to play the superheroic character that Batson turns into. And Variety reports that Grace Fulton, who worked with Sandberg on this year's horror sequel Annabelle: Creation, will play one of Batson's friends.
Shazam! should hit screens on 5 April, 2019.