Although Warner Bros’ and DC Films’ upcoming Shazam! film might not have the huge budget of an Aquaman or a Justice League, they are spending their money where it counts: in the costume department. In a report from Total Film (via Syfy), Shazam! costume designer Leah Butler, who previously worked with Zachary Levi on his TV series Chuck and with director David F. Sandberg on his previous film Annabelle: Creation, revealed that the Shazam costume cost a whopping $1 million, and that there were actually ten of them!

When designing the costume, Butler explained how she was not only influenced by the original comic book costume of the ’40s, but also the character’s modern update, which was created for DC Comics’ New 52 reboot. Every aspect of the suit was specifically designed for Levi, Butler explained, saying, “The spandex suit that goes over a musculature suit, and each muscle has been sculpted on the body of Zach so it accents and highlights his shape and size.”

But the real reason these costumes broke the bank? Technology. “There’s also a ton of electronics involved, as the central bolt and gauntlets light up,” Butler explained. “There is actually a battery in the back — we luckily had a cape to cover it all up or I don’t know where we would have put all that stuff.” The price tag for the Shazam! costumes alone actually cost more than twice the entire budget for Sandberg’s horror hit Light’s Out. Here’s hoping it all pays off when the film is released on April 5.

Images: Warner Bros