Shazam The Billy Batson/Shazam casting thread

[Micromind]

The problem with Routh is that Shazam often tends to look even bigger than Superman, and Routh looks quite slender compared to Cavill. It would be another piece of miscasting IMO. I think Routh just has the wrong look for Shazam, and he never even quite looked like Superman to me. He might've looked a bit like Reeve as Clark Kent, but once he became Superman and put on the costume, there was something a bit off with him.

First, Cavill was 28 year old at the time he got the role of Superman whereas Routh was 26 when he got the role of Superman.

Then, at the time of SR, Singer did asked Routh to stop training and gaining more muscle, also the suit was really not designed to make him look big, I mean this is the suit when Routh gave a screen test for Mc G's Flyby...one year before he got the role for SR. (Here is looks much better than he did in SR's suit.)

This pic with Rock shows that Routh can look big enough (and in this pic Routh is clearly not in his SR's physique either.)

Having said that, I don't think that Routh is a good choice for Shazam.

I would prefer Armie Hammer or someone else, maybe John Krasinski ?

 

[regwec]

Asa Butterfield

Alan Richson

Asa Butter field for Billy Batson and Alan Richson for Shazam/Captain Marvel.

Asa would be great, but I really want him to play Tim Drake (or any other Robin).

Don't know anything about Alan Ritchson (as I think it is spelled), but he looks good for it.

 

[Dark Raven]

First, Cavill was 28 year old at the time he got the role of Superman whereas Routh was 26 when he got the role of Superman.

Then, at the time of SR, Singer did asked Routh to stop training and gaining more muscle, also the suit was really not designed to make him look big, I mean this is the suit when Routh gave a screen test for Mc G's Flyby...one year before he got the role for SR. (Here is looks much better than he did in SR's suit.)

This pic with Rock shows that Routh can look big enough (and in this pic Routh is clearly not in his SR's physique either.)

Having said that, I don't think that Routh is a good choice for Shazam.

I would prefer Armie Hammer or someone else, maybe John Krasinski ?

What's that got to do with anything? It's not like all 28 year olds are automatically bigger than 26 year olds, or that those extra 2 years have any kind of effect on your physique.

Routh's face looks wrong for Shazam. I didn't even think his face looked right for Superman. He looks more like a guy in a Superman costume to me. Maybe if you stick glasses over him he looks more Clark Kent-ish, but once you take them off he doesn't really have a commanding air as Superman. And I don't even find that he looks so much like Christopher Reeve either.

 

[Wheels]

I could see Ryan McPartlin playing a kid in in a superhero's body quite well.

 

[SlamAdams]

I could see Ryan McPartlin playing a kid in in a superhero's body quite well.

Agreed, I like this idea a little more than some of the others.

 

[Airwings]

How in the hell is Tye Sheridan a bully type?

He isn't a bully, but there's something about him that suggests he's perfect for that kind of character. Tye has got attitude, that is clear when looking at these pics:

I'm not against casting against character, but I think Billy's weaker side sets the bar for what actor they hire.
Asa is a better choice with the more good-hearted look he usually has:

A problem could be that he doesn't want to play another known young fictional character after Ender and Hugo Cabret.

 

[Micromind]

What's that got to do with anything? It's not like all 28 year olds are automatically bigger than 26 year olds, or that those extra 2 years have any kind of effect on your physique.

Routh's face looks wrong for Shazam. I didn't even think his face looked right for Superman. He looks more like a guy in a Superman costume to me. Maybe if you stick glasses over him he looks more Clark Kent-ish, but once you take them off he doesn't really have a commanding air as Superman. And I don't even find that he looks so much like Christopher Reeve either.

In Routh's case, his "looks" took some time to mature, which was one of the reasons why he looked less like "Superman" to some.

Anyway, I have already said that Routh is wrong for Captain Marvel (Shazam).

 

[Pickleweasel]

He isn't a bully, but there's something about him that suggests he's perfect for that kind of character. Tye has got attitude, that is clear when looking at these pics:

It is clear he has attitude based on 2 pictures? That's a joke right? No one can have an opinion that is that baseless. Must be a joke

 

[Airwings]

It is clear he has attitude based on 2 pictures? That's a joke right? No one can have an opinion that is that baseless. Must be a joke

No more joke than suggesting unknowns as superheroes and adding pictures to show how much "X" looks the character.

 

[SlamAdams]

Tye Sheridan has been in 3 movies. In 2 of the movies, he was being bullied by his father, and in one he was standing up to bullies. He has never been a bully and is easily one of the most talented up and coming young actors working today. He is about to turn 18 though so he might be too old for it.

 

[regwec]

I don't know the kid, but based on those pictures alone, I have to comment that he has a very punchable face.

 

[Lobo]

You guys are only saying that because in the first pic he looks like a live action version of one of Nelson's bully friends from The Simpson's.

 

[Da-Scribe]

I fully support Alan Ritchson.

 

[Airwings]

What about Aramis Knight and Jacob Lofland as I suggested before. Could they suit Billy?

 

[regwec]

You guys are only saying that because in the first pic he looks like a live action version of one of Nelson's bully friends from The Simpson's.

Actually, it is the second picture in which I think he looks even less likeable. Like a spoilt, fat, oily, resentful mummy's boy.

Let me add, however, that I know nothing about the kid, and he may well be as nice as pie.

 

[Zoom]

How about Mason Cook for Billy?

 

[Dark Raven]

How about Mason Cook for Billy?

From the look of him, he seems alright. I think you need a kid who looks innocent and full of wonder, and not someone who looks like a bully or too street wise. Shazam has to almost be a wish fulfilment of a boy who might otherwise be ignored or bullied by others. That way, he gets to be someone that the other bullies might admire and respect. If Billy looks and acts like a bully himself, there doesn't seem to be a sense of justice when he becomes Shazam.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

I don't care what anyone says, I want this to happen.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

How about Mason Cook for Billy?

 

[Airwings]

I think you need a kid who looks innocent and full of wonder, and not someone who looks like a bully or too street wise. Shazam has to almost be a wish fulfilment of a boy who might otherwise be ignored or bullied by others. That way, he gets to be someone that the other bullies might admire and respect. If Billy looks and acts like a bully himself, there doesn't seem to be a sense of justice when he becomes Shazam.

We're on the same level here
August Rush (Freddie Highmore) and Bastian (Barret Oliver) in Neverending Story are maybe as close as one can get to Billy Batson in live action. That's how the character should be portrayed, that's how innocent and dreamy he should look.

I throw in another pair of suggestions here.
Isaac Hempstead Wright and Lino Facioli, both from GoT. They have just the right age.
I know there's a lot of praise about the girls from the series, that they have potential to get great careers, but why couldn't the boys too?

 

[regwec]

Not much for support for the New 52's foster-home tough kid, then? I actually quite liked it.

 

[Airwings]

Mason Cook = OK, but not more
Rather Ty Simpkins then, even if he's not a favorite.

But Bastian pretty much IS Billy Batson, as a matter of fact. Going to Fantasia and live your dreams is the same thing as becoming a superhero.

SHAZAAAAAM t:

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Not much for support for the New 52's foster-home tough kid, then? I actually quite liked it.

I'm all for that!

 

[SlamAdams]

Not much for support for the New 52's foster-home tough kid, then? I actually quite liked it.

I liked quite a bit of it, most of it. I could do without the jerk kid routine.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Not much for support for the New 52's foster-home tough kid, then? I actually quite liked it.

Yeah I really loved that actually. I don't like the idea of Billy being a complete wimp.

Some of the kids here, like Mason Cook, are too young imo.

Tye Sheridan is pretty much ideal for the New 52 Billy.