SHAZAM! (2019) Director & Cast
David F. Sandberg, Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Djimon Hounsou
DAVID F. SANDBERG (Director), ZACHARY LEVI (Shazam), MARK STRONG (Dr. Sivana), and DJIMON HOUNSOU (Wizard)
DAVID F. SANDBERG (Director) was born in 1981 in Jonkoping, Sweden, and fell in love with film at a young age. In his late teens, he worked in a video store, which allowed him to both delve more deeply into his passion and save up money to buy his first camcorder. He began making short films and submitting them to festivals and this eventually led him to intern at a local film center, Film i Jonkopings lan.
Sandberg released his first short animated film, "For Barnen," on YouTube in 2006, which was quickly followed by another animated short, "Vad Tyst Det Blev." This short went on to win several awards from the November Film Festival and, because of its success, led to job offers and starting his own company making commercials and shorts for various clients.
In 2009, Sandberg moved to Gothenburg, Sweden, and began collaborating with Claes Lundin of CL Film. In 2011, they finished their animated documentary TV series "Earth Savers," which aired in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Other projects include "Ladyboy," an experimental mix of animation and live action, and "Wallace," a VFX-filled tale of a bullied boy whose drawings come to life.
In 2013, Sandberg realized he had slipped away from his original dream of making horror and sci-fi films and decided to begin making short horror films in his apartment with his wife, Lotta Losten. Their second short film, "Lights Out," became a viral hit with over 100 million views and quickly began making waves in Hollywood, where it was snatched up by New Line and Warner Bros. The feature film of the same name, directed by Sandberg and produced by James Wan, premiered in 2016 and was a box office hit.
Sandberg once again collaborated with New Line and James Wan on his second feature, "Annabelle: Creation," an installment in the successful "The Conjuring" franchise. "Annabelle: Creation" went on to make over $300 million at the worldwide box office.
Together with Losten, he continues to produce film and television projects across various genres.
ZACHARY LEVI (Shazam) has proven himself to be a triple threat-he is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer, which was displayed with his Tony-nominated performance for Best Leading Actor in a Musical in the critically praised Broadway production "She Loves Me."
Levi can currently be seen in his recurring role for season two of Amazon Studios' Emmy winning series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," where he recently took home a Screen Actor Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The first season of the show won six Primetime Emmys, two Golden Globes, as well as a Peabody Award and two Critics' Choice Awards. The second season won one Golden Globe, three SAG Awards, one PGA Award, two Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, one Critics Choice TV Award, and TV Program of the Year at the AFI Awards.
His previous film credits include "Thor: The Dark World," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," and "Tangled." The song "I See the Light," written for "Tangled" and performed by Levi and Mandy Moore, was nominated that year for an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The pair performed the duet at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony. "I See the Light" also won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 54th Grammy Awards. Levi is best known for his fan favorite performance as Chuck Bartowski in the hit NBC series "Chuck." His other previous TV credits include the Netflix mini-series "Alias Grace" and "Heroes Reborn."
Levi started his own company, The Nerd Machine, in 2010, building a geek culture brand that fosters greater interaction between fans and celebrities, while also giving back. Nerd HQ, the live event and philanthropic division of the geek culture company, hosts celebrity panels where proceeds go to Operation Smile.
MARK STRONG (Dr. Sivana) is one of today's most compelling and charismatic actors, and will soon be seen in the forthcoming television series "Temple," for Sky.
Moviegoers have seen him in notable collaborations over the years with directors Guy Ritchie, on "Sherlock Holmes," "RocknRolla," and "Revolver;" Ridley Scott, on "Robin Hood" and "Body of Lies," for which he received a London Film Critics Circle Award nomination; and Matthew Vaughn, on "Kingsman: The Secret Service," "Kick-Ass" and "Stardust."
Strong's other films include Robert Burdreau's "Stockholm"; Toa Fraser's "6 Days"; Mark Elijah Rosenberg's "Approaching the Unknown"; Richie Smyth's "Jadotville"; John Madden's "Miss Sloane," with Jessica Chastain; Mortem Tyldum's "The Imitation Game"; Jorge Dorado's "Anna"; Nae Caranfil's "Closer to the Moon"; Eran Creevy's "Welcome to the Punch"; Nick Murphy's "Blood"; Jean Jacques Annaud's "Black Gold"; Andrew Stanton's "John Carter"; Tomas Alfredson's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth; Peter Weir's "The Way Back," with Jim Sturgess; John Michael McDonagh's "The Guard," with Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle; Martin Campbell's "Green Lantern," opposite Ryan Reynolds; Jean-Marc Vallee's "The Young Victoria," opposite Emily Blunt; Pete Travis' "Endgame"; Vicente Amorim's "Good," with Viggo Mortensen; Danny Boyle's "Sunshine"; Stephen Gaghan's "Syriana," with George Clooney; Roman Polanski's "Oliver Twist"; Kevin Reynolds' "Tristan + Isolde"; Thomas Vinterberg's "It's All About Love"; Mike Figgis's "Hotel"; David Evans' "Fever Pitch"; Istvan Szabo's "Sunshine" (1999); Bharat Nalluri's "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day"; and Kevin Macdonald 's "The Eagle."
Strong was a BAFTA Award nominee for his performance in "The Long Firm," and won the Broadcast Press Guild Award for Best Actor. His other telefilm and miniseries credits include, "Deep State"; "Nosferatu"; "Our Friends in the North," directed by Simon Cellan Jones and Stuart Urban; Adrian Shergold's "Low Winter Sun" (which won the BAFTA [Scotland] Award for Best Drama - he recently recreated the role in the US); "Births, Marriages and Deaths"; Pete Travis' "The Jury" and "Henry VIII"; David Drury's "Trust"; Diarmuid Lawrence's "Emma," opposite Kate Beckinsale; Roger Michell's "The Buddha of Suburbia"; Danny Boyle's "Screenplay" episode titled "Not Even God Is Wise Enough"; and, opposite Helen Mirren for directors David Drury and Tom Hooper, respectively, "Prime Suspect 3" and "Prime Suspect 6."
Strong has also performed in radio and stage plays, most recently appearing in the National Theatre's "The Red Barn," and the Young Vic's critically acclaimed "A View from the Bridge," which also transferred to the West End and Broadway. For his performance in "A View from the Bridge," he received both the Olivier Award and Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor. He was an Olivier Award nominee for his performance in Sam Mendes' Donmar Warehouse staging of "Twelfth Night" (which he played in repertory with Uncle Vanya). UK audiences have seen him perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in Danny Boyle's staging of "Hess is Dead," among other productions; with the National Theatre, in four productions for Richard Eyre, David Thacker's "Death of a Salesman," and Patrick Marber's "Closer," among other shows; at the Royal Court, in Lindsay Posner's production of "The Treatment" and Hettie MacDonald's staging of "Thickness of Skin"; and Peter Gill's New Ambassadors production of "Speed-the-Plow."
He studied English and Drama at London University, and then acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
DJIMON HOUNSOU (Wizard) is a two-time Academy Award-nominated actor for his work in Ed Zwick's "Blood Diamond" and Jim Sheridan's "In America."
Later this year, Hounsou is co-starring in Elizabeth Banks' "Charlie's Angels" as part of the Bosley ensemble. He also reprises the role of Korath the Pursuer from "Guardians of the Galaxy" in "Captain Marvel." Hounsou had a cameo as The Fisherman King in the blockbuster "Aquaman," directed by James Wan. He also recently finished filming a major Chinese Television show, "24 Hours in Chang'an," and voiced Sumo in "Blazing Samuari," an animated comedy. He also co-starred with Matthew McConaughey in Steven Knight's thriller "Serenity."
Born in Benin, West Africa, Hounsou moved to Paris at the age of 13 to pursue a Western education. As an adult, he was discovered by fashion designer Thierry Mugler and subsequently modeled for and appeared in several iconic music videos for legendary photographer Herb Ritts and director David Fincher. Small film roles followed before Hounsou's breakthrough performance as Cinque, the African who leads an uprising to regain his freedom in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad." Hounsou earned a Golden Globe nomination and a NAACP Image Award for the part. He later shared a SAG Award nomination as a member of the cast of Ridley Scott's Academy Award-winning Best Picture "Gladiator."
In 2006, Hounsou received an NAACP Image Award, a National Board of Review citation and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role as a forced laborer who discovers a rare gem in "Blood Diamond," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. For his performance as an artist afflicted with "Aids in America," Hounsou garnered an Independent Spirit Award, was named 2004's ShoWest Supporting Actor of the Year and shared an ensemble SAG Award nomination.
His film credits also include James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy," Guy Ritchie's "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," and David Yates' "The Legend of Tarzan." He lent his voice as Drago Bludvist to "How to Train Your Dragon 2," and also co-starred in "Same Kind of Different as Me," "The Island," "The Tempest," "Eragon," "Constantine," Jan de Bont's "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life," and Shekhar Kapur's "The Four Feathers," with Heath Ledger.
For television, Hounsou voiced The Black Panther in the BET animated series based on the Marvel Comic. He also starred as a refugee seeking asylum in a memorable six-episode arc on "ER," and played a recurring role in the series "Alias," starring Jennifer Garner. More recently, he starred as CJ Mitchum in the second season of "Wayward Pines" on FOX.
Hounsou is producing and developing a slate of feature films and documentaries via his company Fanaticus Entertainment. Through Fanaticus, Hounsou has a clear commitment to bettering Africa by using his accumulated knowledge and influence to allow the Continent's stories to be heard. Fanaticus completed their first documentary, called "In Search of Voodoo," about the traditions that define West Africa, the Continent, and the African Diaspora (Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, Argentina, U.S., etc.). The film shows how this way of life has been misrepresented and diabolized in Western culture.
As a celebrity ambassador for Orbis, Hounsou is promoting a campaign to raise awareness and funds for curing childhood blindness and empowering the youth of West Africa. In 2009, he opened the UN General Assembly in New York with a compelling speech about the impact of climate change on developing nations. Hounsou has appeared before the U.S. Senate on behalf of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and participated in a hearing and summit for the International Arms Ban Treaty.
