EW has unveiled their latest San Diego Comic-Con 2018 magazine cover featuring Zachary Levi as the titular character in Shazam! Starring alongside Asher Angel who plays young Billy Batson - the human alter ego of Shazam, Levi is set to debut as the newest DC superhero on the block next year in the forthcoming movie. Directed by Annabelle: Creation helmer David F. Sandberg, the movie promises a more lighthearted and family-friendly tone compared to previously released Warner Bros. and DC Films projects.

Not much is known regarding story specifics of the film, but the titular hero and his young friend are expected to square off against Doctor Sivana, the main antagonist of the narrative played by Mark Strong. Over the last few days, Warner Bros. has started rolling out marketing materials and if they’re any indication, the studio is fully embracing the fun and wackiness of the character. Now, this latest piece of promotional imagery doubles down on that.

Ahead of the start of San Diego Comic-Con, EW unveiled their special free issue featuring Levi in the upcoming Warner Bros. superhero flick, Shazam! Check it out below:

From the get-go, Warner Bros. has been upfront about the tone that they’re going for with Shazam! And while some fans may not be exactly thrilled by the fact that the film is dubbed a “fun” flick considering the term is mostly associated with Marvel movies, Sandberg pulling this one off will be a great win for the DCEU in general. Not only will it smash the conception that the franchise only does"dark" and “gritty” narratives, it’ll also allow them to change things up, which is pivotal in keeping the audience interested in the film series for the long run.

For months, fans kept on asking about the release of the official first look at Shazam! following several leaked photos and videos from the set. Warner Bros. remained mum amidst the campaign, while Sandberg and his team appeased people online. Turns out, it’s for the best considering the film is coming to SDCC later this week, where it will be part of the Warner Bros. panel. Now, the buzz surrounding Shazam! is nothing but positive. All initial concerns regarding Levi’s suit are mostly gone given how glorious he looks in released promotional stills for the flick. Having said that, it’s best for fans to save their final verdict until they actually see it in action in the film’s first trailer which is also expected to drop during the panel.

It’s been a great week for Warner Bros. and DC Films so far with both Shazam! and Aquaman generating positive buzz ahead of the studio’s SDCC panel. Hopefully, their streak continues over the weekend with the release of the aforementioned films’ first trailers.

MORE: SDCC 2018: The Most Important Panels (And What to Expect From Them)

Source: EW

  • Aquaman Release Date: 2018-12-21 Wonder Woman 2 Release Date: 2020-12-25 Shazam! Release Date: 2019-04-05