Who is in the Shazam cast? Directed by David Sandberg, the comedic superhero movie was very different from some of the other films in the DC Extended Universe and beyond.
But this shift in direction worked in the DC movie's favor, as it not only garnered a 90% critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes but also paved the way for a sequel in the DCU which arrived in 2023. Sadly, the follow-up won't land on anybody's best superhero movies list (or best movies list, for that matter), but we can still reminisce about the first.
We've decided to take a look at the original actors in the comedy movie, including what you might have seen them in before — so here's what you need to know about the Shazam cast.
The main Shazam cast list:
- Zachary Levi as Shazam/Billy Batson
- Asher Angel as Billy Batson
- Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
- Adam Brody as Freddy Freeman (superhero form)
- Djimon Hounsou as Shazam
Zachary Levi as Shazam/Billy Batson
Shazam is the super-powered alter ego of a young boy named Billy. When Billy says the word "Shazam!", he turns into the stronger, older form of the superhero, and is granted special powers that include flight, strength, and speed. Essentially, it becomes a body swap situation. The character was first created in comic book form back in 1939, so he's been around for a long, long time.
Starring as Shazam (Billy Batson's superhero form) wasn't Zachary Levi's first superhero movie — he also appeared in two Thor movies, and outside of courting both Marvel and DC, he's known for playing Chuck Bartowski in one of the best TV series, Chuck. His most recent role was in the new Spy Kids reboot, a Netflix movie that none of us predicted was coming.
Asher Angel as Billy Batson
Billy is the human boy who becomes equipped with Shazam's powers. Billy didn't have the best life growing up, as he was separated from his mother at a carnival, and spent his formative years running away from various foster homes. He was granted the powers by the wizard, Shazam, (not the same Shazam — confusing, we know) and is chosen to be a champion of good.
Angel started his career as a child actor in the 2008 drama movie, Jolene, before going on to a main role in the Disney series Andi Mack. (His Disney background is pretty extensive since he also starred in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.) Outside appearing as Billy Batson in both Shazam movies, he also starred in the teen movie Darby and the Dead.
Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana
Dr. Thaddeus Sivana is your classic movie villain. Thaddeus was originally considered to inherit the powers of Shazam as a child, but it became clear that he was too tempted by the dark side. He's also rejected from his family, who own Sivana Industries. After becoming a host for the Seven Deadly Sins, which is a group of demonic characters, he goes fully evil and kills his father and brother. Yikes.
You know Mark Strong. He's been in just about everything. As well as appearing in blockbusters like Zero Dark Thirty, The Imitation Game, and the Kingsman movies, Mark Strong has also appeared in the DCU multiple times. He played Thaal Sinestro in Green Lantern and Dr. Thaddeus Sivana in Shazam. He's played an antagonist many a time, in movies such as Sherlock Holmes, Kick-Ass, and Stardust. But you'll probably recognize him the most for the "country roads, take me home" scene in Kingsman 2.
Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
When Billy winds up in another foster home, Freddy becomes his foster brother and, eventually, his best friend. He films a lot of Billy's antics while he's in his Shazam form. Plus, he's something of a superhero expert, so he's pretty useful. Freddy gets powers of his own down the line since Billy requests to the wizard Shazam that Freddy become his companion. After this, Freddy winds up with his own alter ego, known as Captain Everypower.
When he isn't fighting bad guys alongside his on-screen foster brother, Jack Dylan Grazer is fighting evil clowns, as he played a young Eddie in one of the best horror movies, 2017's It. Grazer also lent his voice to Disney movie Luca and stars in drama series We Are Who We Are. He was due to voice a character in the upcoming Disney Plus show The Spiderwick Chronicles, but it has since been canceled.
Adam Brody as Captain Everypower/Freddy Freeman
Much like Shazam is for Billy, Captain Everpower is Freddy's superhero form. He also gains powers of superhuman strength, flight, and durability. He's also very skilled in hand-to-hand combat and is a talented marksman (though this was something his human form exhibited, too).
2000's girlies, rejoice! Before he played a Shazamified Freddy, Adam Brody had a breakout role as Seth in The O.C. But his small screen roles don't stop there. Over time, he's also appeared in Smallville, Gilmore Girls, and most recently, Fleishman Is in Trouble. He's also appeared in movies like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jennifer's Body, and Promising Young Woman.
Djimon Hounsou as Shazam
All this talk about super-powered alter egos wouldn't be happening if it weren't for the wise old wizard, Shazam. Originally known as Shazamo, he's an ancient hero and keeper of the Rock of Eternity. He must choose a successor and initially selects Black Adam, who later betrays him. He eventually lands on Billy Batson.
Hounsou played the OG wizard Shazam in the 2019 movie and has also appeared in some of the greatest movies around, including Gladiator, In America, Blood Diamond, and Steven Spielberg movie Amistad. Over time, he's also appeared in other action movies, such as Charlie's Angels and Furious 7. He's since reprised his role as Shazam in the spin-off film, Black Adam, and the Shazam sequel. You'll see him next when the Gladiator 2 release date and the Rebel Moon release date come around.
Everyone in the Shazam cast list:
- Zachary Levi as Shazam/Billy Batson
- Asher Angel as Billy Batson
- Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman
- Adam Brody as Freddy Freeman (superhero form)
- Djimon Hounsou as Shazam
- Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley
- Meagan Good as Darla Dudley (superhero form)
- Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield
- Michelle Borth as Mary Bromfield (superhero form)
- Ian Chen as Eugene Choi
- Ross Butler as Eugene Choi (superhero form)
- Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña
- D. J. Cotrona as Pedro Peña (superhero form)
- Marta Milans as Rosa Vásquez
- Cooper Andrews as Víctor Vásquez
If you want to know more about the upcoming DC movies, check out our guides to the Aquaman 2 release date, Superman Legacy release date, and the Brave and the Bold release date. If you want to watch the DC movies in order, we've got you covered. We also have guides on the best DC characters of all time and the entire Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate.
You can also check out all the new movies to come this year, and discover the five things we want to see from James Gunn's new DCU and one we don't.