Shazam! Might Have Its Billy Batson In The Shape Of Asher Angel

Lightning Strikes Disney Star

♦ Over at Variety, they have just announced that as well as possibly having Kingsman’s Mark Strong in Shazam!, Asher Angel has just been cast as Billy Batson in the film…

Asher Angel, one of the leads on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack, has snagged the role of Billy Batson opposite Zachary Levi in New Line’s DC superhero movie Shazam!

The project is casting up as it heads toward a production start in early 2018, with Mark Strong already in talks to play the villain and Grace Fulton in line for a lead.

The DC Entertainment superhero story centers on a boy named Billy Batson who can transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word “Shazam!” The name is an acronym of the ancient world gods and historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury, from which Batson derives his heroic attributes when in adult form. Levi is starring as Batson’s alter ego, the adult hero known as Captain Marvel.

David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation) is directing Shazam! from a screenplay by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.

The Batson role is a big break for Angel, who plays Jonah Beck, the love interest for tween girl Mack on Disney’s Andi Mack. He has had a handful of appearances in TV and shorts, and recently wrapped his feature debut with an indie titled On Pointe.

Variety Shazam! Asher Angel News