In 2019, Shazam! — the seventh instalment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) — brought in a much-needed fresh and lighthearted vibe to the universe with its story of teenager Billy Batson, who is chosen by the ancient wizard Shazam to be his new champion by saying the name “Shazam”, allowing him to transform into an adult superhero with various superpowers. Billy and his foster brother, Freddy Freeman, set out to discover Billy’s new powers in order to stop the evil Dr Thaddeus Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins.
Shazam!, starring Asher Angel as Billy — with his adult avatar played by Zachary Levi — was a box-office winner and also earned critical praise. This Friday, its sequel Shazam! Fury of the Gods, with Billy Batson / Shazam and his foster siblings set to fight the Daughters of Atlas (Helen Mirren plays Hespera, a daughter of Atlas), will release in theatres.
Over a video call, The Telegraph chatted with Asher Angel, who plays the central role of Billy Batson. Asher, 20, who started his career as a child actor in the 2008 film Jolene, starring Jessica Chastain, spoke about being Billy, what made the first film a big hit and the contribution of Shazam! to the DCEU.
How special was it getting back to make a second Shazam! film?
The reactions to the first film were pretty surreal. Everybody was very positive and a lot of good attention came its way. People loved it. For me, being part of such a huge franchise and a huge universe like DC Comics... it’s just been a dream. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be part of a superhero property.
Shazam! is a great property and it’s even more special going into the second film knowing that the first has been so popular. That we got to make a second Shazam! film means the world to me. There are not really enough words to explain it. I am in kind of awe and shock... still!
What do you think worked for the first film?
Shazam! is so different from any other superhero film out there. Who doesn’t want to see a kid who is a superhero inside an adult’s body? (Smiles) It’s like Big (the 1988 fantasy-comedy film in which a preadolescent boy transforms into an adult overnight, played by Tom Hanks)... but in a superhero version.
I just loved the family component that we had in the first film. Also, the action was great. There were so many heartfelt moments in the first film that involved Billy (Batson) finding his mom, finding his family....Those were family moments that I could really relate to. The film had moments that made one feel happy, sad... just all these different emotions. Like I said, it’s not your average superhero film and I think it really stood out because of those reasons.
In what ways does Billy’s arc expand in Shazam! Fury of the Gods?
These last couple of years, Billy has been living a really great life with his family. He kind of has everything he has ever wanted. But what worries him is that everyone is growing up, all the kids around him are getting independent. And that worries him because he’s not really ready to grow up, he’s not feeling rushed enough to become an adult. Being a teen is on the horizon for him and he doesn’t really know what’s going to happen. He’s just trying to ensure that the family stays together and that everyone is doing everything together. His biggest priority is in keeping the family intact because he is kind of the leader of the pack (smiles).
Do you share any character traits with Billy?
Billy is someone who has very good intentions and a really good heart. After everything that he has gone through, to keep having the kind of heart that he does is really special. I would like to think that I have a good heart (smiles). We are both pretty grounded.
You and Zachary Levi had some unbelievable chemistry in the first film. How much more work did you put into building on that chemistry in the sequel?
Zach and I spent so much time together off the set. We meshed very well together because we have similar personalities and energies. It was really easy for us to get along. And he’s such a great actor... I got to learn so much from him. We got some creative ideas going together. He just likes to hang out with us... he’s a kid at heart and play what he does in the Shazam! films is a pretty easy task for him, I would say (smiles).
Asher Angel with Zachary Levi
Growing up, all of us have had fantasies about wanting to be a superhero at some point. As a kid, which superhero did you want to be?
Growing up, I was a huge Superman fan. Like a lot of people, I idolised him. And that is why there is this wish-fulfilment aspect about now being in one. It kind of stems from when I was little and I have kind of loved comic books and superheroes.
Were you well-versed with the universe of Shazam! before you were offered the first film?
I have always loved the DC universe. I grew up watching pretty much every DC film that came out. I really enjoyed watching superhero movies overall, and so getting to audition for Shazam! and eventually becoming such a big part of the franchise was mindblowing, surreal, wish-fulfilment... all those different emotions.
How do you think the Shazam films take the DC Extended Universe forward and give it an altogether different spin?
Shazam! is so lighthearted and fun and it did open up the DC Universe to that lighthearted tone. Now with Peter Safran and James Gunn being the new DC heads — they are both so talented and wonderful and really great at what they do — I can’t wait to see what they bring in and how they integrate all these different characters into the universe. Shazam! has given the DC Universe that special tone and there will, hopefully, be many more DC films in the future that have this lighthearted tone. I am really excited about the DC Universe as well as the DCEU Universe.
