Helen Mirren to play supervillain in 'Shazam 2'

Dame Helen Mirren will star as a villain in Shazam! Fury Of The Gods it has been announced.

The Oscar-winning actress, 75, will star as Hespera, the daughter of Atlas, in the sequel to the 2019 film Shazam!

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

The Warner Bros film, part of the DC Comics extended universe, is a sequel to 2019’s Shazam! It tells the story of a teenage boy — Billy Batson, played by Asher Angel — who has the power to transform into the superhero Shazam, simply by saying the word.

Read more: Helen Mirren calls out The One Show for calling her past roles 'feisty'

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.

Watch: Helen Mirren lands comic book role