Shazam! (2015 TV Series)

Shazam! is an American Superhero Action Drama Television Series, based off of the DC Superhero Captain Marvel, and debuted on November 20, 2015, airing on the CW Television Network. It is a Spin-Off of CW's two DC series, The Flash and Arrow, existing in the same fictional universe as the two. The series follows Billy Batson (portrayed by Dylan Sprayberry), an orphaned 14 year old, as he fights crime, speaking the magic word "Shazam", to transform into a costumed adult and gaining the powers of the gods.

The positive reception Sprayberry received in the series' two backdoor pilots on The Flash led to the choice of a full budget pilot.

Premise
As a young boy, Billy was separated from his sister and put into foster care in Fawcett City, after the death of his parents. Billy grew up with his friend Freddy Freeman, and raised by their nice and caring caretaker, Jenny Brooks, living near his uncle Hank Batson. Years later, a 14 year old Billy is chosen by the wizard, Shazam, to be Earth's protector when danger threatens the planet, transforming into a costumed adult and giving him the abilities of the gods, every time Billy speaks the Wizard's name. Now, with the help of his friends and his mystical guardian, Tawky Tawny, Billy uses his powers to fight crime as the Guardian of Earth, Captain Marvel.

Cast
• Dylan Sprayberry as Billy Batson/Tom Welling as Captain Marvel - When he was five, his parents died and he was into his uncle's custody, separated from his sister, whom his uncle gave away, unable to care for both of them. A year later, Billy was put into the Fawcett City orphanage, when his uncle was deemed ineligible to care for him. growing up, Billy became close to his friend Freddy and an orphanage caretaker, Jenny. Billy once took a trip to Central City with Jenny, where they met Barry Allen and his team, and learned he is the Flash. At age 14, Billy was chosen by the wizard Shazam to take on the position of Earth's protector, giving him the Wisdom of Solomon, Strength of Hercules, Stamina of Atlas, Power of Zues, Courage of Achilles, and Speed of Mercury, to become Captain Marvel.

• Kristin Kreuk as Jenny Brooks - A caretaker from the orphanage who has bonded and come close to Billy and Freddy, who see her as a big sister figure, as she sees them as little brothers. She can be a bit nosy with their personal lives, but is always there when they need advice. She is very caring and loyal and one of the few people who know Billy's secret.

• '''Jonny Gray as Freddy Freeman/Cap. Marvel Jr. -''' Billy's best friend and roommate from the orphanage. When Billy joined the orphanage, they slowly became best friends, growing up together in the same room. Freddy is a very loyal friend, protecting Billy's secret, and can be witty and flirtatious. Freddy became crippled, while caught in the middle of a battle between Cap. Marvel and Black Adam, so Billy went to Shazam for help. Shazam grants Freddy all of Billy's powers when he says "Captain Marvel".

• Kira Kosarin as Nicole Davis- Billy's crush and main love interest in the series. They have known each other since Billy moved to Fawcett City and know each other better than anyone else. They nearly already have a relationship in season 1 and it grows stronger over the series, especially after she discovers Billy's secret.

• Jadin Gould as Mary Bromfield Batson/Mary Marvel - Billy's long lost sister, who as a 3 year old child, was separated from her older brother and put into an orphanage in Starling City. She was adopted a year later by the Bromfields, having little memory of her biological parents or brother. When she and her family moved to Fawcett City, she and Billy befriended each other, unaware that they are siblings, until they discover that the halves of their lockets they got from their mother match. Upon discovering Billy's powers, Mary was granted all of Captain Marvel's powers, when she speaks the word Shazam, also transforming into an adult, but not seemingly as old as the adult her brother transforms into and unlike in the comics, they are not twins, but Billy is two years older.

• Morgan Freeman as Tawky Tawny - A mystical tiger that Shazam assigned to guard and watch over Billy from a distance and he does so, as Billy grows up in the orphanage, appearing as a homeless man in public. He, in his human appearance, befriends Billy after Billy sticks up for him from punks and reveals to Billy that he's Billy's guardian, when Cap. Marvel defeats Black Adam at the end of Season 1.

• Lee Majors as Hank Batson - Billy's uncle, whose life went downhill, losing his wife, his brother, and his job. He nearly leaves his home and has little money to take care of himself, let alone Billy, which is why the result of his child care inspection deemed him unable ineligible to take care of Billy, which is why he placed Billy in foster care, but they still see each other everyday and share a strong relationship. Billy, with help from his friends, does his best to get him back in the world and Hank is one of the few people to know Billy's secret.

Backdoor Pilots
These two episodes of The Flash are envisioned as backdoor pilots for Shazam!, as Barry befriends an orphan and his caretaker.

Season 1
After being granted the ability to become an adult with powers of the gods, Billy Batson must protect his world from evil creatures, meta-humans, and villains, becoming Captain Marvel, upon speaking the word "Shazam", while living as an orphaned boy with his friends, Freddy and Nicole, an orphanage caretaker, and his uncle Hank.

Voiceover Introduction
"My name is Billy Batson. When I was five, my parents died, and I was put into an orphanage, seperated from my sister. Growing up in a boring city, I never imagined that I would be chosen to protect Earth from evil, becoming a superhero adult with God-like powers, everytime I speak the word "Shazam". "