We’ve known for a while thatDwayne Johnsonwon’t be appearing inShazam!as the title character’s long-time archnemesis Black Adam, even though the wrestler turned actor is still playing the villainin a standalone filmat some point. But when Collider visited Warner Bros. to watch footage fromShazam!âyou can find a rundown of all thathereâdirectorDavid F. Sandbergand producerPeter Safran sat down to discuss the film and, most notably, why exactly Mark Strong’s Dr. Sivana was chosen over Black Adam for Billy Batson’s first big bad.The reason is pretty hopeful, actually, in terms of the future of the DCEU. Taking its cue from films likeWonder WomanandAquaman,Shazam!isn’t striving to connect to a larger universe, instead offering a standalone look at the hero’s origins. Although a post-credit scene with Johnson was “never a conversation”, according to Safran, a two-hander with both Shazam and Black Adam was discussed before the studio decided to keep the film focused.[caption id=“attachment_755317” align=“alignright” width=“360”]Image via Warner Bros.[/caption]“When I came aboard it was always Sivana,” Sandberg said. “They played with the idea of having the first movie be both Shazam and Black Adam and felt like it needs more set-up than you want to spend in the first movie. You want to introduce him first.“Added Safran: “Shazam’s origin story is big enough to merit its own film. I think that’s what everyone discovered early on. When you see the movie you’ll see that’s what it deserved and that’s what it got.“However, in the extended footage we saw,Djimon Hounsou’s Wizard transports a young Billy Batson (Asher Angel) to the Rock of Eternity, where, among other deep-dive DC Easter Eggs, we got a glimpse of a former, cape-wearing Shazam vessel that used his powers for evil. It’s certainlynotDwayne Johnson, but it definitelycouldbe Black Adam.Safran played coy.“You could read it that way if you choose to,” the producer said. “If you saw something…it’s like a Rorschach. If you see that in it, you see that in it."[caption id=“attachment_759884” align=“alignright” width=“320”]Image via DC[/caption]Sivan isn’t the only adversary set to square off with Zachary Levi’s Shazam, though. Safran revealed that the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, also known as the Seven Deadly Sins, will play a part in the film. Conceived in 1940 by writerBill Parkerand artistC.C. Beck, the Sins are seven powerful demons representing lust, gluttony, wrath, sloth, greed, envy, and pride. Trapped in the Rock of Eternity by the Wizard, the demons first appeared in their imprisoned form alongside the first appearance of Billy Batson himself inWhiz Comics #2.Safran compared what Sandberg has done with the Sins toJames Wan’s work with The Trench inAquaman. (Similiar to Wan, Sandberg cut his teeth on horror films likeAnnabelle: Creation.)“The Sins are gonna' be in some way involved in the story,” Safran said. “So without revealing exactly how they’re integrated into the storyline, I would say that’s probably as close to what James [Wan] did with The Trench. We really let David flex [by building] those kinds of sequences that are scary and cool.“Shazamhits theaters on April 5. For more on the film, check out the links below:
