Jake Gyllenhaal joins "Shazam!"?

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Thursday, March 15, 2007
Source: NYDailyNews

According to the NYDailyNews, Jake Gyllenhaal may be in talks to star as Captain Marvel in a big screen adaptation of Shazam!.

The NYDailyNews writes:

Jake Gyllenhaal may soon collect an awfully big paycheck as America's latest superhero. We hear New Line execs are keen to have the "Brokeback Mountain" hunk play Captain Marvel in "Shazam!" Based on the DC comic, the movie is New Line's bid for a franchise on the order of "Batman" and "Superman." "They're ready to spend up to $200 million to get it started," an insider tells us. Sources say director Peter Segal and his fellow producers want to nab Gyllenhaal before "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi does - with "Spider-Man 3" due to open on May 4, star Tobey Maguire has said he may let someone else play the web slinger.

KJ's Take: Holy god, $200 million on Shazam?! You can't be serious.

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Comments/Responses

TKay42one • Mar 15, 2007, 01:47am •

While I like Jake Gyllenhaal as an actor, I don't think he could pull off Captain Marvel. For my money, I would have loved to have seen Patrick Warburton play the role. He's got huge chin, the goofy face...and I think his voice is even great. Love his work on "Family Guy" playing Joe. Oh well.

miko34 • Mar 15, 2007, 02:07am •

Isn't Captain Marvel about a young radio news reporter who turns into a superhero by saying Shazam?

Is Jake playing the reporter or Captain Marvel... or both? If he's just playing the reporter, then they can get Warburton for Captain Marvel...

But with $200 million... I guess they'll just CG Jake with some muscles...

TKay42one • Mar 15, 2007, 02:47am •

Yeah miko34, except that in the comics, Billy Batson (the boy who turns into Captain Marvel) is 13. It's about being a superhero through the eyes of a kid. Imagine if you were 13 and one day realized that you only had to say a word to become as powerful as Superman. The kid perspective is what makes the character fun to me. The article here said that Gyllenhaal was in talks to play Captain Marvel. I just don't think he's got the right build or look for the role.

madmanic999 • Mar 15, 2007, 04:47am •

Shazam is going to be a hit with comic fans... but I don't think he has the crossover appeal to get butts in the seats... here's hoping I'm wrong. On a side note when I was 13 I would strap on my bike helmet and run full tilt into the side of our trailer yelling KAPOW!!!! It didn't give me super powers... but it looked soooo wicked. Why was I so much cooler than the other kids? It wasn't fair really.

wessmith1966 • Mar 15, 2007, 07:42am •

I don't see Jake as Captain Marvel; he just doesn't have the build for it. I find it hard to believe that New Line is willing to drop $200 million on the project; the Big Red Cheese just isn't the iconic hero that Superman, Spider-Man and Batman are. I'd like to see the magician's mountain and Billy Batson call down the lightning.

Captmathman • Mar 15, 2007, 08:12am •

I think Gyllenhall could make this work. Somehow I have a good feeling here, but I'm not quite sure why. It just seems like Jake is a good fit for this project.

monkeyfoot • Mar 15, 2007, 09:11am •

Yerah, I'm like everyone else here. I'm not sure what role Jake Gyllenhaal could play in Shazam! Unless they plan on having the boy Billy Bateson played older as a young man. But what would be the purpose in that? The excitement is in a 12 year old boy suddenly transformed into the Superman-type adult...and the action and hilarity ensues.

acappellaman • Mar 15, 2007, 09:14am •

Before even reading the story, I was thinking the same thing about Jake being the next Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He's a good actor, but I just don't see him playing Captain Marvel. Like everyone else is saying, he just doesn't have the build for it. I'm 100% Patrick Warburton being CM. He's PERFECT.

godsonfilm • Mar 15, 2007, 09:31am •

$200 Million is about right. It was $250 million for Superman Returns.

dallaswinston • Mar 15, 2007, 09:33am •

I Agree.. Jake Gyllenhaal would be a awesome Peter Parker/Spiderman. Ta Hell with Captain Marvel. Like anyone gives a dam lol. There's only one Captain. and thats Captain America !

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