Dame Helen Mirren to star as a villain in Shazam! sequel

Dame Helen Mirren will star as a villain in superhero sequel Shazam!, it has been announced.

The Oscar-winning actress, 75, will star as Hespera, the daughter of Atlas, in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods.

Her casting was announced on the official Shazam! Twitter account.

The Warner Bros film, part of the DC Comics extended universe, is a sequel to 2019’s Shazam!

Zachary Levi will return as the titular superhero while Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria in Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming West Side Story adaptation, will also appear.

David F Sandberg is set to direct Shazam! Fury Of The Gods.

Also in development is a film based on Shazam! antagonist Black Adam, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in the starring role.

London-born Mirren has been nominated for four Academy Awards and won the best actress Oscar for her lead role in 2006 royal drama The Queen.