With SHAZAM! landing in cinemas on Friday We Love Movies spoke to the stars of the film, Asher Angel (Billy Batson) and Jack Dylan Grazer who we last saw stealing the spotlight in Stephen Kings IT.
Jack Dylan Grazer:
Why is Freddy the perfect superhero sidekick?
And mentor, and sensei... because he’s an aficionado extraordinaire of them all. He knows it all. He can tell you every fact about Superman right off the top of his head. Freddy doesn’t have a lot, so that’s kind of like his fantasy, to live vicariously through these heroes, I guess. That’s why he loves him.
What do you think it is about Billy that Freddy immediately connects with?
Well, first because Freddy is excited about having a new friend. He doesn’t have a lot of them…he has no friends actually. And he has an inkling that Billy has a story to tell, and he wants to know his story. And then when he finds out that Billy is a superhero, he’s dumbfounded and is like, 'I want to be even more involved and help you out and figure this journey out with you.'
Could Billy, as Shazam, have made that journey without Freddy?
No, he would have definitely freaked out!
So what do you think it is about Freddy, just in his nature, that puts Billy the most at ease when he gets to the house? Because he’s not interested in becoming part of this family or all of these kids.
Freddy’s got charisma. He’s really kindhearted. He’s funny, he’s got a really great sense of humor. And he’s really entertaining to listen to. And he’s really smart and witty and quick. He’s just a really good person to be around. He’s uplifting. And, if you wanted to learn some stuff about superheroes, he’s the man.
As a member of the Losers Club from IT, you worked with a close-knit ensemble of kids, and now you’ve worked with a group of kids on this film. How was that dynamic different, or the same?
They’re both a family thing, but the Losers Club was very much bonded through hardship and triumph. SHAZAM! was a very big family dynamic with all these people who were great to be around, really sweet. They’re all amazing actors, really amazing kids, and I love them. We spent a lot of time together. We went to escape rooms. We went and had dinner almost every single night. We hung out in our hotel. We played and we had a bunch of fun.
Speaking of fun, it’s rumored that the biggest kid on set was the biggest person on set: Zachary Levi. You have most of your scenes together, so how did create that dynamic between Freddy and Shazam?
We share a pretty good dynamic together. He’s a really great actor to work alongside. He’s a really great friend, really fun. I love him. He’s so funny. He was always coming on set with his music—he’s got a whole playlist and it’s a really good one, and he makes everybody smile and dance and laugh. He’s just such a fun light on set. Such a beautiful person. I was really lucky working with him.
Do you think he was definitely the perfect actor to play Shazam?
Perfect, I mean, the casting could not have been better. He is phenomenal, and he was perfect, because he is a 14-year-old in a however-old-he-is body.
He had to do a lot of stunts, and Freddy, of course, is right there along with him. Was it fun to play the guy egging him on while he’s taking all the hits?
Yeah. Freddy’s like the coach, saying 'Go on, get out there!'. I’m like the ring guy in a boxing match, just giving him the water. But I’m a little more helpful than that.
What kind of on-set environment did David F. Sandberg establish for you guys, as a director?
He gave us a lot of freedom to figure it out on our own, and when he did give us direction he made it very specific, but he also gave us room enough to grow and expand our characters on our own.
During production on SHAZAM!, what did you do with your downtime?
Oh, I don’t have downtime. I have school. That’s my downtime.
Freddy comes from the SHAZAM! canon, but you’re the first to play him, so what research did you do to portray him?
I read The New 52, so I had an inkling about how this character acted. But even when I auditioned, I felt that I was really in tune with Freddy. I felt that I related with him a lot and that we were kind of the same. Not that I am in love with superheroes, but that we just have the same amount of charisma and outgoingness.
You’re part of the Stephen King world, and now you’re part of the DC world. What does that feel like for you? How do you take that in?
I sometimes can’t believe it. It happened so fast. And it’s hard for my brain to adapt to it. I’m still like a 15-year-old kid and I’m just living my dream and I’m going with the flow. But this is what I love to do so I can’t imagine what I would be doing if I didn’t have this in my life. I’m so lucky. It’s really cool being a part of the DCU because I grew up idolizing the DC universe. And to be a part of that now is just insane. It’s incredible.
What do you hope audiences will experience when they see SHAZAM!?
I think they’re going to be blown away. It’s hard to match what the fandom anticipates sometimes, because if you’re making an adaptation of anything that was originally a fan favorite thing, like IT for example, it’s kind of scary to anticipate how the fans will receive it and take it in, and hopefully enjoy it. IT was nerve-wracking because they read the book and they’re like, 'Wow, this is amazing.' They see the miniseries and they’re like 'Wow, that scared me so much as a kid.' IT was received well, and I feel the same will happen with SHAZAM!
Asher Angel:
Who is Billy Batson? What’s he like when we first meet him and what’s going on in his life?
There’s a lot going on in this kid’s life! Billy got separated from his mom, so he’s basically just out there on the street. He’s a loner. He has no family. It’s just him alone in this world. And he finds out that he’s capable of this amazing superpower, that by just saying one word—'Shazam!'—it turns him into an adult Super Hero. And I feel like for anyone, that would definitely change you, have an impact on your mental disposition, and then it’s decision time.
What are you going to do with these superpowers? Are you going to be good, are you going to be bad? What’s going on? Once he gets over the panic of having superpowers and being an adult, which is kind of crazy, he figures things out with Freddy. Freddy is like his manager and they get to know how to control these powers together. And it’s also relatable because Billy finally finds a family, and he would have never thought it would have been the kids he met in the foster care.
View this post on Instagram
Red carpet roll out with look by @joshuakanebespoke for #shazammovie premiere
What is Billy feeling when he’s thrust into this house full of foster kids when all his life he’s been searching for his mother?
He’s like, 'I don’t want any part of you guys. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to get to know you. I want to just go out in the world, just look for my mom. And if that’s not good enough, then it’s just me.'
What does he think of Freddy that first night when they meet, when Freddy exposes his love of all things superhero-related?
He’s probably thinking, 'This kid’s so dorky, such a geek.' But then, as he keeps talking, he’s like 'Hey, he’s kind of cool and funny.'
They’re about the same age—do you think that helps Billy feel a little more comfortable?
Definitely. At the beginning, the thought is, 'Okay, it’s another foster home. I’m just going to sneak out and run away.' Of course, that’s what he’s thinking. But once he really gets to know Freddy, that’s where he really clicks, and then he starts exploring relationships with Darla, Mary, and everyone. And he finds a real family.
Just say the word! #SHAZAMMovie – in theaters April 5. pic.twitter.com/uNsTDWrYqL
— Shazam! Movie (@ShazamMovie) 6 December 2018
How does Billy find his way to the Wizard, and what happens?
He’s on the subway and somehow, he’s transported to the Rock of Eternity. He’s scared, he doesn’t know where he is, and he sees this Wizard who’s hunch-backed and on his throne. Billy’s thinking, 'I just want to get out of here, I don’t want to be here.' And then the Wizard’s says, 'You are the champion, you are the one.' And Billy’s just thinking, 'Are you crazy? Who would believe that, out of all the people, it would be me?' 'You’re strong in spirit, you’re pure in heart,' and Billy says the word, 'Shazam!' and realizes that whatever this is, this isn’t a dream.
He’s six-foot-two! He doesn’t know what to do, and the only person he could go to is Freddy. Actually, I think one of my favorite moments is when Zac Levi goes up to the window and he has a sign that’s like, 'Don’t scream,' and Freddy just freaks out [Laughs]. That’s a classic moment, like a superhero movie meets Big.
How did you and Zachary Levi work out how to play the same character, as actors, to indicate that you’re the same guy?
We didn’t have a lot of time, because I was shooting another show. I think we had like two days to figure it out. And I did a couple self-tapes for him, he did a couple self-tapes for me. You know, we really already had the same mannerisms and the same facial expressions, but we definitely did pick up on like a couple of tics that we both have so we could incorporate that. But we really just had to trust in each other and in David.
How did your director, David F. Sandberg, work with you to help you discover Billy?
There was a scene that I did for him, and I think that’s really what made him think, 'Okay, you are Billy Batson. You are the one we have been looking for,' because he really saw everything that he wanted. And he told me, 'I don’t want it to be like the comics where Billy is not the nicest guy. I want this one to be, well, he’s just sad. He wants his mom.' And throughout the movie, you really see Billy evolve. Like, when he gets superpowers and he’s this happy kid and he’s starting to open up and the real Billy is actually coming out, the real Billy that everyone wants to see.
There are a lot of kids in this movie—what did you all do in your off time?
There was a lot of fun stuff to do. I mean, it was cold in Toronto, I’ll tell you that. It was freezing. But we took field trips, we did dinners. We did some sleepovers, and that’s how we really bonded. Playing games and watching movies together. I feel like Jack and I really bonded at Comic-Con, like we really knew each other before that, but this is where we really became friends because we were with each other all day doing interviews, cracking jokes and we had a sleepover that night.
What would you like to see happen if you had a magic word and could change something in your life? Something about you, something in the world...?
[Laughs] Can I pick more than one?
Of course, this is about wish fulfillment so you can wish for more wishes, too.
Definitely to fly. Flight would be amazing, to explore the world, travel to different places, that’s always been a dream of mine. Superhuman strength, super strength would be awesome. Just by saying one word you get these huge muscles and you don’t have to go to the gym, you can just be like, 'Hey, look what I can do. Can you do that?' I think any superpower would be amazing. It’d be really cool if you could be the richest person in the world and just hand out money. You could give the homeless money, open shelters, give it to charity. So that would be very cool.
What do you think is the most inspirational trait Shazam has?
Probably him helping others. He’s human, and he’s a kid who’s had a hard life and he really chooses the right path. He’s choosing the right side to help people even though he feels no one ever helped him before now. So, I think that’s kind of cool that he wants to help others even though what he’s been through has been really hard on him. But he has learned from it.
What do you feel like now that you are officially part of the DC Super Hero universe?
It’s crazy, it’s unreal. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ve always had a dream about going into the movie theater and either seeing the trailer or seeing the movie, and I can’t even tell you what it was like seeing it for the first time. It was so exciting. I couldn’t even believe it.
What do you think audiences are going to experience when they’re watching this movie?
I think they’re going to experience a lot of action, of course, but also a good story about wish fulfillment. And it’s just lighthearted and it’s funny. I think what makes it different from any other superhero movie where they’re flying through the air and fighting each other, is that this is a superhero that’s a kid. He thinks like a kid. And what kid out there doesn’t want to be a superhero?
Actually, what person out there wouldn’t want to have superhero abilities? I think Zac killed it, and I think people are really going to like him. I mean, obviously he was amazing in the trailer and it’s going to draw them in, and when they see the movie, I think they’re going to like it even more.
SHAZAM! is out on Friday 5th April.
