With the recent confirmation that Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson has accepted the role of Black Adam in Warner Brothers’ upcoming Shazam! movie, curiosity now turns to who is going to play Captain Marvel, himself (although that name doesn’t seem likely to make it to the big screen given the success of Marvel Studios in recent years)?
When rumours were swirling that Dwayne John could have stepped into the lightning bolt of DC’s greatest Superman analogue it seemed like an amazing idea to cast a person of colour in this part, thereby opening up big-screen superheroes to entire demographic of young people that has henceforth been utterly ignored and under-represented. If DC comics casts Shazam as any other Caucasian leading man, then they are missing out on a huge opportunity to have the Justice League be a more ethnically diverse super team than the, admittedly, white bread Avengers.
Below, I humbly present a list of 5 non-Caucasian actors who could take up the mantle of Shazam!
(note: let’s remember that everyone could bulk up if they needed to)
5. Raza Jaffrey
Age: 38
Nationality: English of Indian descent
What you know him from: Eastern Promises, The Cape, Smash
Why he should play Shazam: Jaffrey comes from the classical English training and although he started out working in serious drama (Spooks/MI:5), most of his American work has been more on the comedic side. He could bring the gravitas needed to make Shazam a threat, while at the same time holding onto the lightness that essentially being a 10 year boy is … and he could probably break out into song while he fought.
4. James Kyson Lee
Age: 38
Nationality: South Korean-born American
What you know him from: Heroes, Adventure Time, Justified
Why he should play Shazam: Lee has lots of voice over experience! This could potentially allow him to bring interesting vocal choices to his performance as Shazam which would make his portrayal more indicative of the character’s inherent youth. Plus, with his work on Heroes you know he can handle material that surrounds superheroes.
3. Donald Glover
Age: 30
Nationality: American
What you know him from: Childish Gambino, Community, wanting to play Spider-Man
Why he should play Shazam: Don’t scream your head off about him being short – think of the comedy there! Glover’s Shazam would be the man at his most childish, even having to look up to speak to his fellow Justice Leaguers. He would bring a great, manic energy to the screen that audiences have come to love (so, we know he’s marketable), and for godsake someone put him in a superhero movie!
2. Jesse Williams
Age: 33
Nationality: American
What you know him from: Grey’s Anatomy, Cabin in the Woods, the Butler
Why he should play Shazam: Williams often plays characters that are highly articulate and intelligent, but with a mischievous side. His portrayal of Shazam would be sneakier and a more sly than Glover or Lee, but just as entertaining to bring to screen. Plus, of all the actors on this list he and the Rock would complement each other the most physically, if DC wants to go for the opposite sides of the same coin relationship between Shazam and Black Adam.
1. David Ramsey
Age: 42
Nationality: American
What you know him from: Dexter, Blue Bloods, Arrow
Why he should play Shazam: Yeah, Ramsey plays Diggle on Arrow, which pretty much negates him, but he’s often the best actor on screen. An accomplished martial artist in his own right, Ramsey would be able to do the majority of his own stunts and lend credence to the strength and abilities of Billy’s Shazam form. His portrayal would probably be the most grounded and imposing, the Shazam who could go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill’s Superman.
RUNNER-UP
If I could have put a Caucasian actor in this list I’d have picked:
Patrick Warburton
Age: 49
Nationality: American
What you know him from: Seinfeld, the Tick, the Venture Brothers
Why he should play Shazam: He actually is Shazam from the comics, just look at him.
10 Comments
Nathan Fillion
Warburton is, to me, the perfect visual, and he can do really well acting childish.
From your list, I think that Jesse Williams is pretty great, but I’d like someone who looks a bit older (like Stephen talked about in Dueling Reviews this week).
Warburton is the first person to jump to my head, but Lee would be my favorite from the five options.
Well, this smacks of stunt casting, just like casing Will Smith as James West or Johnny Depp as Tonto. Hopefully it will be a good movie in spite of the stunt casting but history seems to suggest that this sort of thing is done to try to hide the fact that the movie is probably going to be a stinker. By the way, James Warburton is NOT “Shazam”… the original artist admitted decades ago that he modeled the character of Captain Marvel – which is his real name, NOT Shazam – on the actor Fred Macmurray. Of course, Fred is no longer among us so I guess Warburton would be an acceptable substitute for the genuine article.
Ashley wasn’t trying to say the character of Shazam was based off Patrick Warburton, merely that Mr. Warburton bears a striking resemblance to the character, what with his chiseled chin and perpetual squint
or we could just find the best person to play the part regardless of race, a novel idea I know.
Two things: The premise here is how to best get a POC to play Shazam.
Also, I find it a bit suspect that “the best person to play the part” ends up coincidentally being a white thirtysomething male about 9 times out of 10.
But aren’t those characters 30 something Caucasians?
I’ve always thought a POC should have an original character. I could have seen Lil Bow Wow (Mr. Moss now) playing Static Shock (sorry Jaden m not impressed).
I agree. Idris Elba it is!
I would love having David Ramsey play Shazam, though I sort of wish they had cast The Rock as Shazam and someone like Patrick Warburton as Black Adam