Mark Strong‘s first run into the world DC was with 2011’s “Green Lantern,” and well know how that turned out. Everyone involved rightly wants a shot at another, hopefully better property (as Ryan Reynolds has done with “Deadpool“), and now Strong is going to get his shot.
The actor has signed up to play the villain in DC Films‘ “Shazam.” “Chuck” star Zachary Levi has the lead role in the movie, playing the hero who has super strength, the ability to fly, and lighting fast reflexes on top of nearly invulnerable skin. Yep, he’s basically Superman. Anyway, Strong will play Doctor Sivana, whose story in the current The New 52 comic run is summarized thusly (via Comic Vine):
Dr. Sivana is introduced in the back up feature of Justice League #7. Sivana is piecing together accounts of complete strangers walking off of buses or walking through doors and entering Shazam’s base – the Rock of Eternity. He believes the vanishings are similar to how Teth-Adam became Black Adam. Sivana states that he studied the secrets of science to save his family. Science has failed him and he now searches the realms of magic to find a miracle. Dr. Sivana traveled to an excavation site 45 miles away from Baghdad. When he attempts to open the tomb of Black Adam a bolt of lightning strikes him. When he turns around to the workers, where the right eye was there is a small cosmos and the lightning symbol of Shazam over his right eye socket. The search continues despite his “injury” and with Sivana’s new eye he can see magic. The ancient textreveals that Black Adam will be imprisoned behind the wall until someone who can destroy him can be found. Translating the writing, he discovers that all that is needed to awaken Black Adam is the word “Shazam”. After stating the word the tomb explodes and Black Adam arises, demanding to see the Wizard in his native language. Doctor Sivana takes Black Adam to the city to show the advancement of of civilization. They go to The Rock of Eternity where Sivana’s body can not channel the power. They decide to locate The Seven Deadly Sins and begin with Sloth. Once all The Seven Deadly Sins have been located and Black Adam has finally located Captain Marvel Sivana is quickly abandoned. He looks into the sky watching Adam fly into the night sky yelling that his body can not contain the magic within him. He goes back to search for the entrance to The Rock of Eternity. He locates the entrance and hears the voice of Mr. Mind. Mr. Mind is encased within a glass container and within that container is a glass jar. Mr. Mind formally introduces himself and tells Sivana they will be the best of friends.
Uh, let’s hope it’s not as silly as that sounds. Anyway, David Sandberg (“Lights Out,” “Annabelle: Creation”) directs with production to start next year. [The Wrap]