The Shazam! movie that has languished in limbo for years may finally be seeing light, as New Line Studios has hired actor-turned-screenwriter Billy Birch to write the screenplay for the new movie. The bigger news? DC Comics superstar writer (and my personal fave!) Geoff Johns has also been signed to co-write the feature with Birch.

The movie itself has gone through a slew of writers over the years. William Goldman, Bryan Goluboff, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow and John August have all written versions of the script, but none seem to capture the hero enough for New Line to put the movie into production. Peter Segal, the director behind movies like Get Smart, Anger Management and 50 First Dates is set to direct.

Based on the Shazam! comics published by DC, the movie will follow the exploits of young Billy Batson who gains the power to transform into Captain Marvel, a hero with the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury (hence the name Shazam).

No word yet on when the studio hopes to have the movie in the theaters. We’ll keep you updated when we hear anything.

Personally, I’d be really worried abou this movie if it weren’t for the presence of Johns as co-writer. Both Birch and director Segal all seem to have a bent for comedy and, while Shazam! certainly has a brighter, cheerier disposition and will certainly require a fair amount of humor, it shouldn’t be an out and out comedy. I’m sure that Johns will bring just the right about of warmth and humor to the character, while still being all about the action and superheroics we all want and need.

What do you think? Think a Shazam! movie will be interesting? Like the choice of writers? Sound off below and make your geek speak heard!