After Casting Zachary Levi as Shazam, DC Films Cast Mark Strong as Villain!
After casting Zachary Levi to play Shazam in the upcoming Shazam! movie, DC Films is currently in talks with Mark Strong to play the villain, Doctor Sivana.
Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana Sr. is one of Captain Marvel aka Shazam’s most frequent foes. He’s an intelligent and dangerous scientist who has a mind for politics. Not only that, but he’s also rather wealthy and is involved in organized crime. He first appeared in 1940’s Whiz Comics No. 2
Dr. Sivana is also an extremely important to Shazam’s comic book origin. In the Post-Crisis DC Universe, Sivana funded an expedition to Egypt where both of Billy Batson’s (Shazam’s alter ego) parents ended up dying at the hands of Black Adam. The expedition led to the creation of Captain Marvel, but also ruined Sivana’s business interests. In typical fashion, he blamed Captain Marvel for his failures and set out to destroy him at all costs. Unable to defeat Captain Marvel by himself, he is forced to work with the Venusian creature, Mr. Mind, who needs Dr. Sivana’s knowledge in order to take over the world.
In his most recent incarnation in the comics, Dr. Sivana is a scientist who searches the realms of magic to find a miracle to save his family. While he doesn’t find a miracle to save his family, he does open the tomb of Black Adam and shows him how the world has progressed since he was locked away. Black Adam and Sivana then seek out The Seven Deadly Sins in order to locate Captain Marvel. Once Black Adam discovers Captain Marvel’s location he abandons Sivana. However, Sivana is not alone for long. He makes his way to the entrance of The Rock of Eternity where he encounters Mr. Mind, who tells him they will be the best of friends.
As for Mark Strong, this won’t be his first foray into the DC Universe on film. He previously portrayed Green Lantern villain, Sinestro, in the 2011 Green Lantern film. He also played Frank D’Amico, the villain in Kick-Ass. He also played opposite Robert Downey Jr. in 2009’s Sherlock Holmes as the villain, Lord Blackwood. Most recently Strong reprised his role as Merlin in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Shazam! is expected to hit theaters in 2019. The movie is being directed by David Sandberg.
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