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Zachary Levi on Whether or Not ‘Shazam!’ is a Christmas Movie

Bruce Willis may have finally set the record straight on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not, but Zachary Levi is fully embracing his upcoming superhero film Shazam’s nods to the holiday. Despite having an April release date, Levi and Shazam! director David F. Sandberg told Comicbook.com that it’s totally acceptable to add it to your annual holiday film catalog.

[row]“It feels like a Christmas movie to me. It’s about family, and finding your family, you have these orphans or foster kids… and Christmas is very much a family holiday, so it sort of ties it all together in that way,” Sandberg said.[/row]

The Shazam! movie, which follows a kid named Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who can transform into an adult superhero by saying “Shazam!” will be based on Geoff Johns’ New 52 Run, which is actually set during Christmastime, a fact that Levi also pointed out in the interview.

[row]“That was a Christmas story in that issue, so I think that’s gotta play something into it,” Levi said.

“Yeah, and that was the idea Geoff Johns had for that as well, that it’s a family holiday,” added Sandberg.[/row]

I guess we will all have to see for ourselves when the movie is released, but from the sound of it, the film is going to be filled with a lot of heart, which is exactly what we love both in superhero movies and Christmas movies. Shazam! dropped a fun and energetic first official trailer at 2018 San Diego Comic-Con to rave reviews, which you can check out below!

Shazam! is bringing a new tone to the historically darker toned DC superhero films of the past. The film joins the ranks of Wonder Woman, Justice League, Batman vs. Superman, and the upcoming Aquaman starring Jason Momoa. While it hasn’t been confirmed yet, Shazam! could one day be fighting along Diana Prince & Co. in the Justice League.

[row]“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shazam play a role in the DCU. He exists in that world,” Shazam! producer Peter Safran told EW.[/row]

Of course, Levi would want nothing more than to be given the opportunity to fight alongside the heroes.

[row]”I would lose my s— if that happened, I would lose all of the s—s. I remember thinking, ‘If I get this and if this movie does well enough and if Justice Leauge does well enough and they make another Justice League … maybe I’ll be on that next poster with all those guys,”[/row]

In addition to Levi and Angel, Shazam! will also star Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, and Djimon Hounsou along with The Walking Dead‘s Cooper Andrews.

Shazam! hits theaters on April 5, 2019, and we can all circle back again to discuss whether the film is a Christmas contender or not!