Top 6 Actors To Play Shazam

Shazam or Captain Marvel as he was once known, is set to appear on the big screen in the not so distant future. Nemesis Black Adam has already been cast with the man of the moment Dwayne Johnson set to continue starring in potentially big money spinning blockbusters. So who should they cast in the lead role? Here we take a look at 6 actors we think could star as Shazam!

6. Kellan Lutz

I’ll start the list off with Kellan Lutz. Lutz is a relatively inexperienced lead actor whose recently been seen in The Legend of Hercules, a film which failed with both critics and fans alike. Perhaps with a decent script and director the actor can mature enough into a lead for a potentially huge new superhero franchise.

Lutz clearly has the look to play the hero, or many heroes at that, but is it enough to carry the franchise?

5. Garrett Hedlund

Garrett Hedlund is an actor steadily proving himself as a decent actor, starring in blockbusters such as Tron: Legacy and independent films such as The Coen Brothers Inside Llewyn Davis.

Hedlund was originally my first choice for The Flash, which recently saw Ezra Miller cast in the role. I definitely feel that Hedlund could pull off the role if given the chance.

4. Liam Hemsworth

Liam Hemsworth, the younger brother of Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, is steadily building up quite the impressive filmography. He’s currently starring in the popular Hunger Games series alongside Jennifer Lawrence, and is set to star in the sequel to the Independence.

Liam not only offers a large fan base, which will only benefit the film series but has the youthful charm to bring to the screen as new superhero that can spin off into a new and if successful, long running series.

3. Joe Manganiello

Joe Manganiello is another physically imposing actor we could see star in the lead role as Shazam. Manganiello is 6’5” and built like a tank, so he has the physical size down perfectly.

As well as starring as Flash Thompson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, the actor was also in the running to play Superman in Man of Steel before Henry Cavill eventually won the role. Manganiello has proven himself to be quite the decent actor showing his comedy versatility with Magic Mike and his heroic side as Alcide in the True Blood series.

2. Jake Gyllenhall

Jake Gyllenhall is easily the best actor on the list and often appears on fancasts for various superheroes, often cropping up on fancasts for Batman (he was close to landing the role in Batman Begins). Gyllenhaal was almost cast as Spider-Man as well, which would have seen the actor take over the role from Tobey Maguire, who was injured right before the filming of Spider-Man 2.

The actor has not only appeared in blockbusters such as The Day After Tomorrow and Prince of Persia, proving he can bulk up and play the hero, but also has top quality films such as Prisoners and Nightcrawler under his belt. It’s about time the versatile actor donned the tights and played a superhero.

1. Armie Hammer

Finally, my number 1 choice to play Shazam is Armie Hammer (with a name like that he was born to play a superhero). Hammer whose filmography includes, The Social Network and The Man From U.N.C.L.E alongside Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill. Not only this, but at 6’5”, the actor can match the physical presence on screen with The Rock, who is set to star as Shazam nemesis Black Adam.

The actor was once cast as Batman in George Miller’s take on the Justice League in Justice League Mortal. I think Shazam though, would be more suitable to the actors physique and all American looks.

Some of his films have been hit or miss (The Lone Ranger) but Hammer has been at least decent in most of them. I feel he can carry the franchise and do the character justice.