Thu May 10, 2007 11:58AM3 comments ›
Thu May 10, 2007 — by Mike Gold
The Rock comes to Shazam?
That's not the Rock of Eternity
Director Peter Segal is in discussions with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson about playing the lead – the original Captain Marvel (a.k.a. The Big Red Cheese) in the forthcoming Shazam! movie.
The Rock, the WWE wrestling star who has impressed many critics and movie-goers in such films as The Scorpion King, The Mummy Returns and Gridiron Gang (even if some of those movies themselves did not), is awaiting John August's screenplay before he makes a final decision.
Johnson told ComingSoon.net Marvel's famous red-and-yellow costume might be updated, although "Pete also understands the importance of getting that right; he's a big comic-book fan."
Until then, Rock fans (well, "The Rock" fans) can await his performance as Agent 23 in the upcoming Get Smart movie.
August's screenwriting credits include Corpse Bride, Charlies and the Chocolate Factory, and Titan A.E.
Jump to comments (3) 
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Comments (3)
John McCarthy (1:30 PM on Thu May 10, 2007)
Duane sure doesn't look like Fred MacMurray.
Don't know if that's good or bad in itself, but The Rock, while a handsome devil, has a much tougher appearance than I would have cast for Captain Marvel. More like Black Adam, actually. . .
Mike Gold (2:49 PM on Thu May 10, 2007)
Black Adam – that's a good call.
For those who don't know, artist and co-creator C.C. Beck modeled the original Captain Marvel after actor Fred MacMurray. It will be interesting to see how the movie handles the whimsy of the source material; Jeff Smith is doing a wonderful job of it in his current Shazam!: Monster Society of Evil mini-series.
Arthur Tebbel (12:02 PM on Sat May 12, 2007)
As with most comic book adaptations the most important part of the Shazam movie, Rock or no Rock, will be how it handles the duality of the main character. The problem is that comics has been struggling with characterizing Captain Marvel for so long.
Jeff Smith has been doing an amazing job and I think a big part of that has been the return to a separation between Billy Batson and Captain Marvel. I think that's a much better idea than the worlds strongest 11 year old that he's been portrayed in the modern DCU (no disrespect to the amazing run by Jerry Ordway). This would put a lot more pressure on a child actor though. We'll see how it goes.
I think The Rock is capable of being a good Captain Marvel though.