An Image of Zachary Levi's Shazam. Source: Screen Rant
DCEU (DC Extended Universe) star Zachary Levi, known among the mainstream media and audiences for portraying the superhero role of Shazam, an arch-enemy of the anti-hero Black Adam, who is also set to make his appearance in a standalone film planned to be released next year, in the superhero-based franchise, reveals an interesting story behind him landing as the DC hero through the 2019’s superhero blockbuster directed by David F. Sandberg Shazam!, storyline mainly revolving around the character’s journey in becoming what he ultimately is, a superhero who protects the world from evil creatures by transforming into his alter-ego by saying a magic word, “Shazam.”
While speaking on a podcast The Fourth Wall, the actor recalled how his friendship with Guardians of The Galaxy director James Gunn during the time when he was running for the role of the Marvel superhero Peter Quill also known as Star-Lord along with Chris Pratt and one other actor of which Pratt eventually ended up securing the role, helped him in casting in the role of Shazam. If Levi could have gotten to play around with Star-Lord in Marvel Cinematic Universe not only the fans and followers would be missing him as the alter-ego of teenager Billy Batso but it would be his second role in Marvel films because the actor also starred as Fandral in the not so good Thor: The Dark World released in 2013, followed by another appearance in Taika Waiti helmed 2017’s Thor Ragnarok.
“James [Gunn] and I knew each other, we were friends, we would have game nights at each other’s homes, had a lot of mutual friends. And so he had asked me to come in and read for Star-Lord, and I did, and then that led to the next step, and then all of a sudden I was camera testing. I wanted that role so bad, like so, so, so, so bad. It came down to me, one other guy, and Chris Pratt, but Chris was always their favorite and he was hesitant to take it, which is understandable, I mean it’s a big franchise thing, it’s Marvel, does it work out, does it not work out? Is this what everyone is going to know me as for the rest of my life? All of those things that go through your head,” Levi explained on The Fourth Wall podcast, revealing that he was one of the actors running for the role of Star-Lord alongside Chris Pratt during James and one other star Gunn’ led search to find a perfect superstar who could fit into the personality of the Guardians of The Galaxy leader.
But eventually, and I think smartly, he decided to take the job and so it didn’t go my way or anyone else’s way for that matter, but I hoped I left enough of a good impression with James that when I was auditioning for Shazam, and his very dear friend, and manager, and sometimes producing partner, Peter Safran, calls up James because this is how our industry works…Fortunately, I was in good standing with James, I try to be in good standing with as many people as I can be and try to be a decent person, and I think between that and how well James thought I did in the Star-Lord test, he said, "Yeah man, you really should give Zach an opportunity at this. I really think he could be great." Was that the thing that sent it all over for me? I don’t know that, but I’m sure it was part of that conversation, absolutely. I’m indebted to James that he would believe in me enough to remember that and pass that info on,” he added, elaborating that the kind of impression he left on James Gunn during his screen test for the Marvel role played a major role for him getting cast as Shazam in DCEU. Levi noted that Peter Safran, who worked as the producer on the superhero movie and was a good friend of Gunn, during the search led for an actor to star in the role of Shazam, The Suicide Squad director recommend him as someone who will do the job perfectly.
Zachary Levi is next set to appear in the role of the DC superhero in the sequel of Shazam!, Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, currently planned to hit the theatres on 2nd June 2023, starring a lot of actors who would be returning to reprise their roles of respective characters like Asher Angel in the role of Billy Batson, Jack Dylan Grazer in the role of Frederick "Freddy" Freeman, Djimon Hounsou also in the role of Shazam, Rachel Zegler Helen Mirren in the role of Hespera, Lucy Liu in the role of Kalypso, and Faithe Herman in the role of Darla Dudley.
Meant to be the fourteenth entry in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), the movie marks the return of 40-year-old Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg, who would be leading it as the director with the screenplay by Henry Gayden.
