Shazam!

*For the character, see Billy Batson.*

## Release chronology

"*Billy Batson, I choose you as champion.*"
―Wizard Shazam
***Shazam!*** is a 2020 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. It is the 15th film in the DC Extended Universe and the 4th installment of the Silver Age. It was released on April 5, 2020.

A spin-off, *Black Adam*, was released in 2021. A television sequel, *Billy Batson and the Power of Shazam!* was aired in December 13, 2023.

The film introduces Billy Batson, Wizard Shazam, Mary Bromfield, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley, Pedro Peña, Doctor Sivana, Mr. Mind and Black Adam into the DCEU.

## Synopsis

Courtesy of an ancient wizard, a streetwise foster kid can turn into a magical superpowered being by shouting one word: SHAZAM!. Billy Batson sets out to test the limits of his abilities and have fun with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he'll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.

## Plot

In 1974 in Upstate New York, young Thaddeus Sivana is riding in a car with his abusive father Amos and brother Sid during a snowstorm; being mocked and verbally harassed by them constantly. He is suddenly transported to the Rock of Eternity, a mystic temple located in a separate dimension. The ancient wizard Shazam has spent centuries searching for someone pure of heart to bestow his power and name as champion, after the previous champion released the Seven Deadly Sins. Thaddeus is tempted by the Sins, who promise him power if he will free them. The wizard deems Thaddeus unworthy and magically returns him to the car. Sivana's frustration and confusion leads to a vehicular accident which ends up with his father becoming paralyzed from the waist down and even more resentful towards him. Both he and Sid blame Thaddeus. The Sins send Thaddeus a message via his 8-Ball toy telling him to find them.

In present-day Philadelphia, 14-year-old foster child Billy Batson continually runs away from foster homes to search for his birth mother who he became separated while at a carnival ten years ago. He locks some police officers in a store and uses their computer to try finding his mother which is unsuccessful. He is placed in a group home run by Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with five other foster children: Mary Bromfield, Pedro Peña, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley, and superhero enthusiast Freddy Freeman. The embittered Sivana succeeds in his lifelong quest to find a way back to the Rock of Eternity. He becomes the Sins' vessel when the Eye fuses itself with his body and overpowers the wizard. He promptly uses his newfound powers to kill his father, brother, and Sivana Industries' board of directors.

Billy defends Freddy from bullies at school and is chased into a subway where he is transported to the Rock of Eternity. The wizard chooses Billy to be his new champion; by saying the name "Shazam", Billy transforms into an adult superhero. The wizard seemingly dies and leaves his magical staff behind. Freddy is taken into Billy's confidence and helps him explore his newfound powers, which include superhuman strength, near-invulnerability, and electricity manipulation. By saying "Shazam" again, he can transform back into his normal body. Freddy posts viral videos of the new superhero, and Billy starts skipping school to use his powers to busk for money and fame. He gets into an argument with Freedy after accidentally endangering and saving a bus full of people. Sivana arrives and demands that he surrender his powers. Billy discovers he is able to fly and escapes. Billy finds out the location of his biological mother to which he promptly heads over. Billy is heartbroken when he finds out she abandoned him at the carvinal because she felt inadequate for raising him as a young mother, no longer wanting him in her life.

Sivana deduces Billy's identity and takes his foster siblings hostage. Billy agrees to transfer his powers to Sivana in exchange for their safety. They go to the Rock of Eternity to use the wizard's staff to affect the transfer, but the children attack Sivana. Billy observes Sivana becomes vulnerable when all seven Sins leave his body. Sivana pursues them to a winter carnival and unleashes the Sins upon the crowd. Remembering the wizard's words, Billy uses the staff to share his powers with his siblings, transforming them into adult superheroes like him where he breaks the staff. The Shazam Family battles against the Sins while Billy faces down Sivana. Billy goads Envy into leaving Sivana vulnerable and recaptures them after forcefully pulling the Eye out of Sivana's head.

Billy and his siblings are hailed as heroes. They return the Sins to their prison and realize they can use the Rock of Eternity as their superhero headquarters. Billy finally accepts his foster parents and siblings as his "real" family. In his superhero form, he has lunch with his siblings at school, revealing to Freddy's surprise that he has also invited Superman. Later in prison, the imprisoned Sivana is approached by a talking caterpillar, who proposes an alliance.

In the post-credits scene, Freddy hangs out with Robin, Superboy, and Wonder Girl while "auditioning" to be a part of their team.

## Cast

### Main characters

* Asher Angel as Billy Batson
	+ Zachary Levi as Shazam
* Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
	+ Adam Brody as Super Freddy
* Ron Cephas Jones as Wizard Shazam
* Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley
	+ Meagan Good as Super Darla
* Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield
	+ Michelle Borth as Super Mary
* Ian Chen as Eugene Choi
	+ Ross Butler as Super Eugene
* Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña
	+ D. J. Cotrona as Super Pedro
* Marta Milans as Rosa Vasquez
* Cooper Andrews as Victor Vasquez
* TBA as Amos Sivana
* TBA as Sid Sivana

### Antagonist(s)

* Jackie Earle Haley as Dr. Thaddeus Bodog Sivana

### Side characters

* Henry Cavill as Superman
* David F. Sandberg as Mister Mind
* TBA as Robin
* TBA as Superboy
* Olivia DeJonge as Wonder Girl

## Appearances

### Characters

Billy BatsonFreddy FreemanDoctor SivanaWizard ShazamMary BromfieldEugene ChoiDarla DudleyPedro PeñaRosa VasquezVictor VasquezBlack Adam (cameo)Superman (cameo)Mister Mind (cameo)Robin
(cameo)Wonder Girl (cameo)Superboy (cameo)

### Locations

* Multiverse
	+ Earth-2
		- Earth
			* United States of America
				+ Philadelphia
	+ Rock of Eternity

### Events

* Kahndaqi National Revolution (mentioned)
* Doctor Sivana's Campaign

### Items

* Batarang
* Eye of Sin
* Kryptonian supersuit
* Mamaragan's staff

### Species

* Crocodile Men
* Demons
* Humans
	+ Amazons
	+ *Homo magi*
* Kryptonians
* Old Gods
* Venusian worm

### Organizations

* Council of Eternity
* *Daily Planet*
* Justice League (mentioned)
* Seven Deadly Enemies of Man
* Sivana Industries
* Young Justice

## Production

On 2014, Dwayne Johnson confirmed that he had been cast as the villainous adversary of Shazam, Black Adam. It was reported in January 2017 that a script was being worked on by Henry Gayden. In July 2017, it was confirmed that David F. Sandberg would direct the film. It was also confirmed by Geoff Johns that Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam would not be appearing in this film but would be in his own solo film instead.

Zachary Levi and Asher Angel was announced as the titular character in late 2017.

Filming began in mid 2018.

## Trivia

* The scene where Superman eats with Billy and Freddy was originally longer.