Things are progressing rather quickly for Shazam! Just days after the film confirmed Zachary Levi to play the title hero, there are reports that Mark Strong is in talks to play the film’s villain. Of course, as some of you know, it’s not going to be Black Adam, as Dwayne Johnson will be playing him in a standalone film.

According to reports, Strong is in talks to play Doctor Sivana, who has had run-ins with Shazam before. More on the story below.

The Wrap was the first to report on the news.

This wouldn’t be Strong’s first visit to a DC Comic Book movie world. He played Sinestro opposite Ryan Reynolds in 2011’s Green Lantern. While the casting couldn’t have been more spot on, the film’s poor box office performance and terrible reviews canned any hopes of him reprising the role in a sequel. However, it looks like if negotiations are successful, Strong may get another chance to play in the DC sandbox. But not as the villain we hoped he would play.

Still, beggars can’t be choosers, so who is this Doctor Sivana. Well, other than the obvious bald with big spectacles evil look, the traditional evil doctor who is a common foe to Shazam (then named Captain Marvel, but had no relation to the Marvel Comics character). He may not have any superhuman powers, but he does have a genius-level intellect and is a master manipulator. He also happens to be a brilliant inventor.

His backstory tells us that he was once a good man, who wanted to use his skills to help people. However, corporations and big business blocked him from achieving his goals, leaving Sivana a bitter man. Eventually, he would move to Venus, where he became a high-ranking being among the planet’s inhabitants. He would then return to Earth, where he would wreak havoc. However, he would be stopped by Shazam.

Again, Doctor Sivana is the traditional evil villain always scheming to rule the world. But his motivation for doing so gives him a sense of humanity, and that could be the key to making this film more interesting. A villain who started out as good but could not spread goodwill because corporations frown upon that sort of charity, and he casts himself out to Venus, only to return for revenge. I mean, how awesome is that. It would certainly put Shazam in an interesting position.

Directed by David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation), using a script written by Henry Gayden (Earth To Echo), Shazam! hits theaters on April 5, 2019.

[Source: The Wrap]