Shazam! Movie Finds its Billy Batson on the Disney Channel

With the casting of Zachary Levi (Thor: Ragnarok) as the superhero Captain Marvel in the upcoming Shazam! movie, Warner Bros. is quickly rounding out the rest of the main cast. Last week, it was revealed that the studio is in talks with veteran British actor Mark Strong to play the movie’s villain, Doctor Sivana — which would be his third comic book villain after Frank D’Amico in Kick-Ass and Sinestro in Green Lantern — with Grace Fulton (Annabelle: Creation) in negotiations for a leading role.

Now, the youthful alter-ego of Captain Marvel has been found. According to THR, Disney Channel star Asher Angel (Andi Mack) will play Billy Batson, the orphan boy who gains the body and powers of the hero Captain Marvel whenever he says the magic word “Shazam!”

Horror director David Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation) will direct, from a script by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke. Filming is expected to begin in February 2018 for a 2019 release.