Will The Rock Play Shazam?

[josemlopes]

I really want him to be either a DC or Marvel character but I dont know much about Shazam (isnt he a nerdy kid that can transform into the hero by saying those words) to know if The Rock fits the character.

So I will just leave this here.

Spoiler

Today I was looking in google for picture of pulled sleeves for drawing purposes and this picture showed up, I dont know how old it is but MY GOD does he look terrible in it, it gave me a good laugh

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

Honestly, I was hoping he would be J'onn J'onzz.

 

[elvor0]

But a black (well, half-black, half Samoan) Captain Marvel? Is the internet ready for that kind of explosion?

I like to hope no one knows or cares enough about Captain Marvel to make a stink about it. Hell, my biggest complaint is he seems too old for the role, not too dark-skinned. Still, he's what happens when a wizard makes lightning; I really don't see why age, melanin level, or any of that stuff should prevent him from filling out a suit and saying things like, "Jeepers!"
.

Well considering Billy Batson is the quintisential embodiment Americana suburbia, it is a bit off. People don't make up a stink because they've got something against dark skinned people, they kick up a stick because it's supposed to be adapting defined characters and Captain Marvel isn't black. You think they'd have the balls or get away with casting the Falcon as a white dude? Like fuck they would, they'd have racism accusations flying (ba dum tsh) all over them. DC are already floundering in adapting stuff wtih any degree of sucess, they should stick to the established material, rather than changing defined characters to fill minority quotas. The thing is, they only decide to do it with lesser known characters rather than the big guns, so it's not that they want to diversify, they just have an easier time changing lesser known characters as the general public wont know.

If they really wanted to diversify, we'd see Black Batman, Latino Spider Man or Asian Wonder Woman in the films. Heck, Cyborg is a member of the Justice League now, we've got John Stewart. (though I wouldn't have The Rock either of them). When you've got a large a roster of characters as Marvel or DC, USE THEM, don't change existing characters to get a quota filled.

Especially when we have Black Adam on hand, who The Rock would be my first pick for my a mile, don't even have anyone else in mind to play him.

Also, no matter how much DC insists Captain Marvels name has changed, I refuse, refuse I say! It was his name first!

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

I love how he says "the power of Superman", then immediately says "and it's not Green Lantern, by the way!" as-though he was worried that we might get the wrong impression. Meanwhile I'm like, "What!? Outside of being able to fly, they have completely different powers! Why would I ever guess Green Lantern on that hint?"

 

[Pogilrup]

While it is important to talk about who is more suited to playing Captain Marvel/"Shazam", I think it is also important note who plays Billy Batson.

We need a child actor who can really pull off "courage in the face of danger".

 

[chaser5000]

There were rumors of Doomsday being in the next movie. I could see the Rock as Doomsday.

People might be putting to much on one sentence.

 

[Buizel91]

Well it could be worse, he could be Aqua man...

I can so see the Rock being Shazam, but honestly i will like him in pretty much any role, hell have him play Cyborg, now that would be badass!

 

[Keji Goto]

Been saying it for awhile now but I do not think The Rock is playing Captain Marvel. I'm putting my money on Black Adam. That character still fits all the hints we've got from The Rock as well as the criteria he gave some time back about what a DC character would have to be in order for him to play it.

Source: http://batman-news.com/2014/03/25/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-talks-green-lantern-rumors-comments-on-mystery-warner-bros-dc-comics-role/

1.) "The first quality we were looking for was that he had to be extremely complex and have a lot going on. What that does for me as an actor and the studio is it gives us space that we can explore; his complexities."

Black Adam is a fairly complex villain/anti-hero with a pretty rich history since his origins come from ancient Egypt. In fact one of the writers who helped redefine Black Adam as a corrupted anti-hero trying to clear his name is none other than David S. Goyer, the man who wrote the Dark Knight trilogy, Man of Steel, and Batman v Superman (plus he'll probably be involved with Justice League as well).

If you know the history of Black Adam he's a fairly complex character that gives any actor taking the role on a lot to work with and many ways to approach it. There's multiple levels to him moving from fallen hero, to madman, to anti-hero, and then hero in reform. I'd say this fits the bill pretty well for what The Rock is looking for.

2.) "The other quality was that he had to ? the character we were looking for had to be well-known but never brought to life. Then what that does again as an actor, it gives me a little bit of space, and we talked about personality. It just gives me a chance to put an imprint into his personality, with the set of tools that I could bring to the table and put a very unique twist on his personality, but still pay homage to who he is."

Again Black Adam fits this pretty well as being Captain Marvel's nemesis for quite some time before trying to reform as a true hero. He even fights alongside the other DC heroes to help stop Darkseid and is featured in the New 52 lineup. Of course Black Adam has never been featured in a life action film so he fits this criteria as well.

3.) "The third thing ? and most important ? is he had to be a badass motherf***er, okay, and on a Superman level of power, where [he] could throw down. In those three qualities, I?m happy we?ve found that character. Right now, we?re out to a lot of writers."

Black Adam has this in spades and even directly battles against Superman many times. I don't think I need to go into much other detail on this one.

Not only that but The Rock pretty much already looks the part and could pull it off quite well. I just don't think he'd be a good fit for Captain Marvel plus I think they'd go for the younger looking Captain Marvel that we've seen in the latest Justice League animated movies.

From where I'm standing it just makes sense that The Rock will be tackling the role of Black Adam. The character has all the qualities he's looking for, plus he does his transformation with the use of a magic word too. All of this fits right in with the teases The Rock has given us.

 

[A-D.]

If the Rock were to play any DC Characters, Black Adam or Bizarro come to mind, they would actually fit him, or rather he would fit the role and personas the best. Plus each are technically speaking ridiculous powerhouses and have good qualities about them, hence making them not simply one of the bad guys, although with Bizarro i guess you could argue he is evil from the point of view of the heroes, except to him they are actually evil because everything is reversed where he came from (he is alternative universe superman were good is evil and evil is good).

Black Adam would fit him the best, both physically as well as personality. Black Adam has always been a anti-hero of sorts, even when he is ultimately being the villian of the story. An interesting start of him would be World War 3, or leading up to that event given how important to the old continuity it was, at least that way they dont have to see whether he fits the new canon.

As for whether he could play Doomsday, i doubt it. Doomsday isnt really a character, he is a natural disaster. You dont really need to be able to act, there is nothing to characterize about Doomsday given his nature is pure destruction. Solomon Grundy on the other hand might be an interesting fit too.

 

[JimB]

Well considering Billy Batson is the quintessential embodiment Americana suburbia, it is a bit off.

Captain Marvel is not Billy Batson; or at least, he is not Billy Batson's appearance. He is a wizard's spell that so happens to look human.

People don't make up a stink because they've got something against dark skinned people, they kick up a stick because it's supposed to be adapting defined characters and Captain Marvel isn't black.

They have something against a dark-skinned person playing a character whose race is in no way a defining nor even interesting component.

You think they'd have the balls or get away with casting the Falcon as a white dude?

Mirroring an action does not make it equivalent. That only works if you deny that social context has any relevance. When Hollywood develops a history of casting people of color to impersonate white people for the sake of playing white roles at the expense of white actors, then it will be the same thing.

DC are already floundering in adapting stuff with any degree of success; they should stick to the established material, rather than changing defined characters to fill minority quotas.

I need a citation for this assertion that they hired the Rock because he's black(-ish) and not because he's physically huge, has a goofy grin, and is a popular draw.

If they really wanted to diversify, we'd see black Batman, Latino Spider Man or Asian Wonder Woman in the films.

Given that they never said the point is racial diversity--you're the one who said that, not them--I'm not sure what your point is.

Also, no matter how much DC insists Captain Marvels name has changed, I refuse, refuse I say! It was his name first!

Damn right. Shazam is the wizard's name, not Captain Marvel's.

 

[ron1n]

I still think it could be Black Adam. He looks pretty darn similar to the character.

AND there's acting precedent: He played basically the same Egyptian Warrior/Prince(minus the super powers) in the Scorpion King. Plus he said 'throw down with Superman'. Now while Superman has fought Shazam too, it would be kind of stupid to essentially have 2 superman-level heroes to work with in future jla movies.

However, since it sounds like they want him headlining his own film, Shazam does seem more likely. Could definitely be either though still.

 

[ccggenius12]

You make him John Stewart and i will go see that movie...

In marvel world, i would love to see him play as luke cage

Suggesting someone other than Terry Crews for Luke Cage just seems... wrong.

OT: Clearly he will be playing Martian Manhunter, and the magic word is Oreo. Dude can't get enough of 'em.

 

[Jacked Assassin]

You make him John Stewart and i will go see that movie...

In marvel world, i would love to see him play as luke cage

Suggesting someone other than Terry Crews for Luke Cage just seems... wrong.

OT: Clearly he will be playing Martian Manhunter, and the magic word is Oreo. Dude can't get enough of 'em.

But choosing Isaiah Mustafa to play Luke Cage feels just so right!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d3RqCUvK3g

 

[FPLOON]

Huh... Given how I'm already suppose to believe that The Rock's Hercules, I shouldn't be surprised that I should now believe that he could be Shazam...

<link=http://images.kdramastars.com/data/images/full/44403/the-rock-edited-to-look-like-black-adam.jpg>Then again...

 

[lastjustice]

I'd love see Rock play Black Adam, and Brendan Fraiser play Shazam (Captain marvel.)

 

[elvor0]

Well considering Billy Batson is the quintessential embodiment Americana suburbia, it is a bit off.

Captain Marvel is not Billy Batson; or at least, he is not Billy Batson's appearance. He is a wizard's spell that so happens to look human.

In Kingdom Come, Batson is shown to be indistinguishable from Captain Marvel when he's grown up. I know that's not entirely canon, but Marvel does clearly resemble an older Batson. Plus I'm assuming they'd have to change Batson too, as him changing from the proper Batson into The Rock would be all kinds of odd.

People don't make up a stink because they've got something against dark skinned people, they kick up a stick because it's supposed to be adapting defined characters and Captain Marvel isn't black.

They have something against a dark-skinned person playing a character whose race is in no way a defining nor even interesting component.

But not against people of colour. It's against the concept of them changing a character, the specific race of the actor is inconsequential. It's not about racism, because the same complaints would obviously be levelled if they changed the race of anyone. The point is, they're pre-defined characters, some of whom are 70 years old, which people don't wish to be changed.

You think they'd have the balls or get away with casting the Falcon as a white dude?

Mirroring an action does not make it equivalent. That only works if you deny that social context has any relevance. When Hollywood develops a history of casting people of color to impersonate white people for the sake of playing white roles at the expense of white actors, then it will be the same thing.

But they're not "impersonating" them. What I said isn't quite the same as what you're saying. If it's okay to cast white characters with black actors, then should it not also be okay to do the reverse? It is the 21st century. I know Hollywood has had a history of racism, the whole world has, but if you want equality then races need to be treated /equally/. Which means that it should be perfectly okay to cast a black character with a white actor. But they don't because people would cry racism, when in reality they're doing the same thing but in reverse.

I know there's still issues, and some people still feel raw (and so they should), but if you give special treatment just to tide people over, then it's igoring the issue, you can't want equality and then give perks to certain people, because that's not equality.

DC are already floundering in adapting stuff with any degree of success; they should stick to the established material, rather than changing defined characters to fill minority quotas.

I need a citation for this assertion that they hired the Rock because he's black(-ish) and not because he's physically huge, has a goofy grin, and is a popular draw.

Well okay no, I don't have any proof, and saying "well of couse they're not going to say that because then it's obvious that they're doing to fill a quota" doesn't exactly disprove your answer, or solidify my initial point. But c'mon, token black dude exists as an expression for a reason. And like I said, it's not like there ain't characters he could portray just as well that do fit his appearance. Why change existing ones?

If they really wanted to diversify, we'd see black Batman, Latino Spider Man or Asian Wonder Woman in the films.

Given that they never said the point is racial diversity--you're the one who said that, not them--I'm not sure what your point is.

So why don't we see any of those, if they're just going for whoever is good for the role? There's black and latino actors who could play the character of Wonder Woman waaaaaay better than Gal Gadot, I still wouldn't pick them because WW isn't black or latino. They're universally known characters, even the general public would respond with: "What the fuck? Batman isn't black, get outta here!" With the exception of Johnny Storm, who I don't agree with either, it's less known characters that get changes like these. Which shows that rather than trying to pick who they think are the best "actors" for the role, they're actually trying to maximize damage control by picking characters the least amount of people will notice changes to. The point is they /wouldn't/ change the race of a big gun, but they don't care about it for the lesser known characters.

Though frankly with the Rock I think it comes down to stunt casting, given the previous actors cast rather than trying to fill a quota, as DC have shown they clearly don't care for the source material in their new slew of films.

Also, no matter how much DC insists Captain Marvels name has changed, I refuse, refuse I say! It was his name first!

Damn right. Shazam is the wizard's name, not Captain Marvel's.

It makes it even sillier when Black Adam still shouts "SHAZAM!" Damn you Captain Mar-Vel! *shakes fist!*

 

[JimB]

In Kingdom Come, Batson is shown to be indistinguishable from Captain Marvel when he's grown up. I know that's not entirely canon, but Marvel does clearly resemble an older Batson.

I love Kingdom Come, but it is not a canon story, and we cannot assume that what's true in a book that has "Elseworlds" printed on the bottom corner of the cover is true in the main universe, let alone in whatever mishmash of DCU and Nu52 the movie will be set in.

Plus I'm assuming they'd have to change Batson too, as him changing from the proper Batson into the Rock would be all kinds of odd.

Magic is odd. I don't see why a little white kid can't turn into a warrior of whatever genetic ethnicity a wizard wants to turn him into. I kind of image them going the route they went in the last He-Man cartoon series and saying he takes on the form of a specific warrior of ancient times yadda yadda yadda.

But not against people of colour.

No, just against people of color trying to play a role that they disapprove of based on his color.

The point is, they're pre-defined characters, some of whom are 70 years old, which people don't wish to be changed.

First of all, I am extremely gratified to see you say "whom." Well done.

Second, I don't have any way of knowing whether this imaginary person (or group of imaginary people) is motivated by racism, fear of change, or what. I don't care very much either, since the person or people whose motivations we're discussing are imaginary. No matter what their reason is, I think it's remarkably dumb to care about the skin color of an imaginary character except when his skin color is in some way relevant and/or integral to the character's experience, and it's just not in Captain Marvel's case. It's no more important to the character than the color of the Hulk's skin, so I don't see a good reason to continue to segregate acting roles like water fountains in 1950s Alabama except when it serves a clear and compelling purpose for the narrative the movie wants to tell.

If it's okay to cast white characters with black actors, then should it not also be okay to do the reverse?

Ah, I understand. Yes, ideally, it should be okay; but it isn't. We in America, at least, have not achieved that level of equality. I assume by your spelling that you're English, so maybe that's something that can happen where you live, but for us? No. Not when someone like Dwayne McDuffie can point out that putting three black people in a movie makes it "a black movie" that directors and editors will have to change to make acceptable for a white audience.

I know there's still issues, and some people still feel raw (and so they should), but if you give special treatment just to tide people over, then it's ignoring the issue; you can't want equality and then give perks to certain people, because that's not equality.

I have never said "equality" before you brought it up. I object to equality as a general rule, particularly in debates. The word I would have chosen is "equity;" equality of opportunities, not equality of treatment. Let people be treated differently according to their abilities, capacities, and status. I only want everyone to have the opportunity to be treated appropriately according to those things, not equally across the board when people are not equal.

But c'mon, token black dude exists as an expression for a reason.

No argument from me, but personally, I wonder how many people know Dwayne Johnson isn't white. I became aware of him through a friend's obsession with wrestling, and no one I was ever exposed to referenced his race. Where I live, that's generally because they think white is the only race not worth commenting on. I obviously can't prove this, particularly after Family Guy did a two-minute joke about his race (because the people I know who like wrestling generally like Family Guy too, so the pool is muddied), but I get the feeling a lot of people think he's just a tan white dude with a kind of weird facial structure.

Why change existing ones?

I would guess it's because Captain Marvel in the movies is always going to be a different creature from Captain Marvel in the comics, so why waste time drawing arbitrary lines about what changes are okay and what aren't? Why not let a very light-skinned black-ish person play the equivalent of a magical elf in a white cape?

So why don't we see any of those, if they're just going for whoever is good for the role?

Oh, I never said they pick who's best for the role without ever considering race. I just said you're attributing to the makers of the Captain Marvel movie, as well as the movies of all the other franchises you just named, motivations they have never claimed for themselves.

It makes it even sillier when Black Adam still shouts "SHAZAM!"

It occurs to me that casting a black-ish dude as a villain named Black Adam might be a touch on the nose.

 

[RealRT]

You make him John Stewart and i will go see that movie...

In marvel world, i would love to see him play as luke cage

Idris Elba should be John Stewart.

 

[Vicount Tinselby]

Am i the only one that thinks hed make the most entertaining Namor the Submariner ever?

Namor is exactly the Arrogant Dick that everyone loves becuase hes so charismatic that Dwayne Johnson was born to play. Shazam needs to be played as a shy boyscoutish child in a mans body who is uncertain about giving people orders, at least to distinguish himself from Superman.

I just dont see The Rock in that role, but yeah go on if he's Black Adam, i dont know much about the character but from what ive gathered he used to be a one note evil twin, but now hes actually pretty similar to Namor so thats cool with me.

 

[Bruce]

The Rock - I could actually see as Shazam, he has that sort of child-like quality about him that is needed for the role.