[massacre man]

Warner Bros. has tapped scribe Bill Birch to reboot "Shazam!," the DC Comics' adaptation of the Captain Marvel story that's being developed as a potential franchise.

"Get Smart" director Peter Segal remains onboard to direct; he'll also produce with his Callahan Filmworks partner Michael Ewing. Geoff Johns will co-write and consult on the project.

Segal and Ewing began working on the film three years ago at New Line before it moved over to Warners. Pic centers on teenaged Billy Batson, who transforms into the superhero when he says the word "Shazam!" The studio is now looking to go back to the original DC Comics source material for inspiration.

Previous drafts have been penned by John August, William Goldman, Bryan Goluboff and the team of Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow.

Birch is currently writing "One Finger Salute" for Warner Bros. with Andrew Lazar producing and Segal attached to direct.

He's repped by ICM and Anonymous Content.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...=1&ref=bd_film