Shazam’s Original Appearance Was Based on This Classic Actor

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Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows.

The Big Picture DC is responsible for some of the most memorable protagonists in comic book history and arguably shaped what the modern “superhero” character looks like. Storytellers’ obsession with mythic heroes can be traced back through classic characters such as Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Tarzan. However, the inspiration for the members of the Justice League dates back even further, as many of these characters can be compared to key figures in mythology.

The moniker “Shazam” draws from six significant figures within mythology. When donning his superhero alter ego, Billy has the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. While the mythological roots were key in identifying the character’s powers, Captain Marvel is a relatable character because he resembles a real person.

Who Was Fred MacMurray? Often regarded as one of the more underrated actors of the Golden Age of Hollywood, MacMurray was known for playing heroic characters with upstanding moral qualities. While it was his imposing physicality that likely shaped the influence of the Shazam character, MacMurray’s sense of humor was also one of his defining characteristics.

Given that Shazam! comics were more squarely aimed at younger readers, it's not entirely unsurprising that MacMurray began to star in more family-oriented films as his career progressed. 1947’s The Egg and I was a breakthrough movie that showed that his physicality could be perfectly utilized for a romantic comedy, as his chemistry with Claudette Colbert was widely praised.

 

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