The Longshots!
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 17: (EDITORS NOTE: Image processed using digital filters) Actor Dwayne Johnson attends Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards 2014 on July 17, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
6. Dwayne Johnson
When The Rock first got involved in this project, I really wanted him to be Shazam. His nice guy demeanor is always more effective than any other tone he has tried, and his underrated sense of humor would be put to good use as a kid in an adult’s body. I know he is already cast as Black Adam, but technically The Wizard gives Billy and Adam the same abilities. Maybe they are turning into the same champion.
5. Patrick Warburton
Warburton has been a fan-favorite for a long time thanks to his filmography of lovable oafs that would translate pretty well to a kid in an adult’s body, the most popular probably being his turn as the titular Tick. At 50, he may have aged out completely, but I saw on one forum, a user trying to write a convincing reason for Warburton to take on the role. What if the being is choosing their champion on what they think a true man would be? Adam chooses some big burly he-man warrior, and Billy, an orphan, chooses his father. It is kind of compelling, and makes sense when you see illustrations of Billy’s father. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is what was literally happening. I just couldn’t find any confirmation that Billy truly based his superhero persona on his father.
4. Nathan Fillion
Thanks to his work with Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion has been fan-cast for a lot of different characters. I almost didn’t even want to put him on the list, but I caved anyway. While his role in Firefly made everyone think he could be Green Lantern or Nathan Drake, his role on Dr.Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog as Captain Hammer should convince everyone he could play the Big Red Cheese. Ya know, except with less of a libido than Hammer. Of course, Fillion is usually the first to note that Castle keeps him too busy to take on these kinds of roles.
The Better Shots
3. Ryan Hurst
Ryan Hurst turned some heads with his role as Opie on Sons of Anarchy. It gave him a pretty wild head of hair, which I haven’t seen him without in a very long time. That hair has sort of dictated his roles outside of SOA. I am curious if it is a personal choice, or if it was for the series. He was clean cut in movies like Remember the Titans and The Ladykillers. If he cleans up, he’d make a pretty good Shazam.
2. Enver Gjokaj
Before Ben Affleck was cast and it was made clear that the DC movie universe was going to go with an older Batman, I really wanted Enver to play Bruce. Dollhouse wasn’t a great show, but it should have made Enver a star. He was an action hero, a comic relief, a master of accents and voices. The guy could seemingly play anything. He deserves a chance at the big leagues
1 Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake’s been on a roll lately. Even with the not so glowingly reviewed Southpaw, Jake was still held up as the best thing about it (and he was in serious superhero shape). It is possible that after the success of Day After Tomorrow and the not-so-success of Prince of Persia, he may be done with summer blockbusters, but I think he could walk the fine line of nuance involved with a goody two shoes character that is a goody two shoes because he is still literlly full of childlike innocence.
