Jack Dylan Grazer’s dreams come true in his role as Freddy Freeman in the upcoming DCEU movie, “Shazam!”
Jack Dylan Grazer plays Freddy Freeman in the upcoming DCEU movie Shazam! Born in Los Angeles, California, Jack grew up in the entertainment world. Grazer has performed in multiple productions in the ARTE program (Adderley Repertory Theatre Ensemble) at the Adderley School for the Performing Arts.
He is best known for starring in the hit horror film remake It.
We got a chance to sit down with Jack and talk about filming Shazam! and his thoughts about the superhero. Check out our exclusive interview with one of the stars of the latest DCEU superhero movie Shazam!, Jack Dylan Grazer below:
Jack Dylan Grazer
Photo Credit: IMDb
The Knockturnal: Can you talk a little bit about your experience filming the movie?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Well, it’s a dream come true. To even audition for a movie like this, I was so thankful to even have the opportunity for that. But then even getting it, because I’ve idolized the DC universe for my entire life and then to be given that opportunity to portray a character that I really resonated with was really cool! It’s beyond cool It’s beyond everything! It’s like beyond my wildest dreams, and for it to happen right now, so early in my career is mind-boggling.
The Knockturnal: You’re obviously no stranger to big budget films, having performed in “It” a few years ago. What were your feelings and mindset coming into another big film?
Jack Dylan Grazer:: Actually, it was a lot of the same producers on this movie that were on “It” and also we shot it in Toronto which was where we shot “It” as well. So, it was kind of like the same crew, so that was cool to look off camera and see my buds. But, it’s such a close quarter kind of thing, it doesn’t feel like a very big budget movie, it feels like a very family-oriented film.
The Knockturnal: Can you talk a little bit about David Sandberg’s direction? What did you take notice to during filming?
Jack Dylan Grazer:: One thing that I noticed was that David gave me a lot of leeway, a lot of flexibility, and a lot of capability to let us reach our characters without having the sides or anything. We were able to improvise a lot because he wanted us to, you know, forget the paper and say what we think Freddy or Billy or Mary would say in this instance in response to whatever. So, he was really great with that.
The Knockturnal: You and Zachary Levi had a lot of screen time together in the movie and the dynamic between the two of you was great. What was it like working with each other?
Jack Dylan Grazer:: We had a lot of fun together. We were quite the duo. We made each other laugh, we cracked each other up a lot and he’s just so much fun. He brings this big speaker on to set every day, plays his tunes, there’s never any negative energy around him, he’s just such a beautiful guy. He’s so cool.
The Knockturnal: And in this movie, there are so many jokes and hilarious scenes between you guys, was there jokes or scenes that you really like that got cut from the movie?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Yeah, there were some, but I probably can’t say which they were. I would probably assume that they would put those on the DVD set thing, like the behind the scenes, that would be cool.
The Knockturnal: Your character, Freddy Freeman, is an eccentric person with not only a deep interest in superheroes but also has interests in odd subject matter. One of the first lines you say is “Did you know, ancient Romans, brushed their teeth with urine.” What are some odd or obscure interests that you have?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Well actually, that was a fact that I knew that I improvised! I said a variety of different weird facts, and then they chose that one. I don’t know though, I know a lot of movie trivia and things like that.
Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman in “Shazam!”
The Knockturnal: In this movie, we see what happens after Billy Batson becomes Shazam, but suppose Billy was never chosen, and instead it was Freddy who obtained the powers of Shazam. How would his story play out?
Jack Dylan Grazer: I don’t think it would have many layers, because I think he would know what to do right off the bat. There wouldn’t be any of that kind of sense of confusion in the beginning and having to overcome obstacles like “I don’t know how to fly, I don’t know how to use any of these things!” Freddy already knows he’s got it in the bag. He could do this in the snap of his hand.
The Knockturnal: And how do you think the fight with Doctor Sivana would play out?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Maybe not as good. Because he’s never had any training in melee fights, Billy on the other hand has.
The Knockturnal: Do you think you would have run away at first?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Oh yeah, or just play really dirty, like just zap him the whole time.
The Knockturnal: Well, now let’s take the other side, if you were Doctor Sivana, how would you go about defeating Shazam?
Jack Dylan Grazer: I don’t know, maybe just choke him out. I mean, he had the opportunity to just choke him out.
The Knockturnal: Wow, not even go straight for the family or anything, just choke him out.
Jack Dylan Grazer: Yeah just choke him out, man.
The Knockturnal: Suppose there is a Batman v. Superman type movie being made with Shazam. Shazam v. ________. Who is the other hero from the DCEU, what is the result of the battle, and who makes a surprise appearance at the climax of the film?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Ooh, I think it would be cool to see The Flash and Shazam do a race, that would be cool. But I think it would be great to see Superman versus Shazam because we’ve seen that in comics. And there was a really cool comic, I keep forgetting the name of this one, but they fight each other without their powers. They go to this planet and their powers are useless there and so they just fist fight and Shazam wins. Because he, of course, is omnipotent.
The Knockturnal: So, if you could have one of the seven powers of Shazam (the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, the speed of Mercury), which one would you choose and why?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Maybe the speed of Mercury. I don’t know… Probably the stamina of Atlas, stamina is important. You got to have good stamina to maintain battles.
The Knockturnal: Six Flags Great Adventures in New Jersey is home to many world famous rollercoasters, many of which feature DC characters, including Superman, Green Lantern, Batman, Bizarro, and Joker. What type of rollercoaster would the Shazam ride be, and what special effects or unique characteristics would it feature?
Jack Dylan Grazer: Oh my god. It would have to go super-fast, have great music, and it would probably shoot up into the sky!
Check out Jack Dylan Grazer as he stars in the new DCEU movie Shazam!, which hits theaters April 5th!
