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Dame Helen Mirren to take on her first superhero film role as Shazam! sequel villain

Dame Helen's first superhero film will see her play the villain Hespera - the daughter of the god Atlas, in the DC Comics sequel.

27 February 2020, Berlin: 70th Berlinale, awarding of the Golden Bear of Honour to Mirren. Actress Helen Mirren. The International Film Festival takes place from 20.02. to 01.03.2020. Photo by: Britta Pedersen/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image: Dame Helen Mirren to take on her first superhero film role
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Dame Helen Mirren has joined that cast of the Shazam! sequel, marking her first role in a superhero film.

The 75-year-old will star as Hespera, the daughter of Atlas, in the highly-anticipated DC Comics sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods.

Dame Helen has been nominated for four Oscars in her career, winning the Academy Award for best actress in 2006 for her part in The Queen.

Newcomer Rachel Zegler, who will appear in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of West Side Story later this year, has also been added to the cast of Shazam!.

Zegler tweeted her excitement at the news of Dame Helens involvement, saying: "I'M GONNA BE IN A MOVIE WITH HELEN MIRREN?????"

Zachary Levi will return in the film's lead role - a teenager who is turned into his adult superhero alter ego after yelling the word "shazam", and being struck by the Living Lightning of the gods.

While he is bestowed with the powers of six gods - Soloman, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury - he is also trying to navigate high school.

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The first film, which was released in 2019, rocketed straight to the top of the global box office rankings on its opening weekend, and has grossed around $366m (£266m) worldwide.

David F Sandberg, who celebrated Dame Helen's involvement by tweeting "Awesome cast getting awesomer", will return to direct the sequel.

A film based on Shazam! antagonist Black Adam is also in development, with Dwayne Johnson in the title role.