If Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is to be believed, it sounds like comic book fans won’t have to wait as long as we initially thought for the highly-anticipated Shazam film, in which he is signed to play villain/anti-hero Black Adam.
While promoting his upcoming film, San Andreas, Johnson was asked about the Shazam movie (see video at the bottom of this post), which is slated to release April 5, 2019, but to ask Johnson it may come a bit earlier. “No, I don’t think it is going to be that far away. It’s going to be earlier than that. I don’t think 2019,” he said.
You might recall Green Lantern in June 2020.
The idea WB is looking to release Shazam sooner means they probably would have to push back a scheduled film, or release three DC films in 2018 to compensate. From Johnson’s comments, he states they’re still working on the script, and with no announced director or cast, it’s reasonable to expect Shazam won’t begin filming until 2016, at the earliest. That would leave only 2017 or 2018 as the earliest this film could be released.
Wonder Woman is scheduled for June 23, 2017 and already has a star (Gal Gadot) and a director (Patty Jenkins) attached. The forward momentum on this film leads me to believe it’s firmly locked in to it’s release date, and the only other film in 2017 is Justice League which is the crown jewel of the upcoming DC Comics “multiverse”, so it seems unlike it be moved from its November 2017 release date.
In 2018, WB has Flash and Aquaman, both with announced writers, stars, and rumored directors and both seem further along in the development cycle than Shazam.
So does Johnson have information the public doesn’t about release date changes? I’m sure if anyone knows, he would be the one. However, using common sense and a little deductive reasoning, I’m having a hard time believing it. Could they release Shazam in the Fall of 2018? Of course! But why would they give up the more optimal Spring release date for a Fall release? Shazam is a comic property that would benefit from a big Spring/Summer release.
If the release date changes, look for an announcement closer to filming. Otherwise, expect Shazam to grace the big screen April 5, 2019.
