Here’s What We Learned On The Set Of DC’s ‘Shazam!’ Movie

Director David F. Sandberg

-As we sat and watched Asher Angel and Grace Fulton film a scene in Shazam!, we waited for the talent to arrive for interviews and the first person to come out was the Sandgod himself, David F. Sandberg.

-The core story details have always been the same minus some about the Seven Deadly Sins and how they worked and looked.

–Justice League being a critical and financial failure didn’t alter Shazam! in any way and Sandberg doesn’t pay too much attention to the criticism of other DC films.

-Sandberg didn’t know much about the character before taking the job and had to do a deep dive into Shazam lore.

-He took on the job because of how it was pitched to him. He was told it was Big with superpowers and he thought this  was a very unique and fun idea.

– Shazam! is a fun movie with comedy and some dark aspects. He even compares it to The Goonies, Ghostbusters and Back to the Future.

–Shazam! will take on the magical side of the DC Extended Universe and explore what that is in a very realistic manner.

-He looked at over 100 people for the role of Shazam until he came across Zachary Levi’s audition tape. When he did, Sandberg said “Ooh, that’s the guy.”

–Shazam! uses real DC toys and merchandise. Sandberg couldn’t use certain toys because the characters weren’t in the DC Extended Universe yet.

-Sandberg wanted to incorporate a little bit of everything from Shazam! comics to the film. His vision for the super suit borrowed from Golden Age comics and the New 52.

-Sandberg tried to use as much practical effects as possible. The Ferris Wheel from the Christmas carnival was real.

-According to Sandberg, Shazam! is self-contained all the while connected to the larger DC Extended Universe. You don’t have to see any of the previous films to watch this one.

-Mark Strong gets a chance to redeem his self as a DC Comics villain after the failed Green Lantern movie, but Sandberg says there won’t be any Green Lantern Easter eggs in this movie.

-Shazam! is a more personal story that doesn’t have as much spectacle as larger DC Extended Universe films preceding it.

–Aquaman director James Wan and Sandberg didn’t talk much during the filming of Shazam! or post-production on Aquaman. In fact they hadn’t seen each other since Wan began filming Aquaman.

-Sandberg has already thought about the Shazam! post-credits scene, but was tight-lipped on what it could entail.

-Including The Rock as Black Adam was already off the table when Sandberg came on board.

-It was Geoff John’s idea to change the film’s setting from Fawcett City to Philadelphia.

You can check out the full interview with David F. Sandberg here.