Zachary Levi Allegedly Believed His ‘Shazam’ Role Would Propel Him to Become the Next Captain America — Now He’s Left Bitter

As a fan who has followed Zachary Levi‘s journey since his Chuck days, it’s heartbreaking to see him struggling with bitterness and career stagnation. The man who brought Shazam/Billy Batson to life was more than just an actor; he was a beacon of hope for those who loved the character. His dream of becoming the next Chris Evans or Dwayne Johnson in the superhero genre seemed within reach with his role as Shazam, but it seems that fate had other plans.


Most people know Zachary Levi best from his current portrayal of Shazam in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The initial movie was quite popular, striking a chord with viewers and critics alike, and managed to turn a profit even though its main character wasn’t particularly well-known.

Instead, the follow-up faced intense criticism from both critics and audiences, resulting in substantial financial setbacks for the production companies. Several reasons might have caused this flop, such as the observation that the movie did not establish any future storylines, which was significant considering the downward trend of DCEU during that timeframe.

After the debut of Shazam 2, Levi once more grabbed attention when he leveled accusations against James Gunn, claiming that Gunn exhibits a tendency towards nepotism by frequently employing his sibling, Sean Gunn, in numerous productions.

It’s possible that Levi’s disappointment stems from two factors: firstly, he might not be returning to his character in the newly created DC Universe; secondly, his recent movie, “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” didn’t do well commercially at the box office.

Lately, Levi’s political stances have garnered attention too. In particular, he openly supported Presidential nominee Donald Trump, an act perceived by many, including Levi himself, as potentially damaging to his career.

At a gathering in Michigan on the 28th of September, Levi described his backing of Trump as a potential “career-ending move,” admitting that it might limit his chances in the significantly liberal entertainment industry known as Hollywood.

spectators at the rally perceived Levi’s endorsement as a selfless act; nevertheless, insiders familiar with the actor and his circumstances disclosed to The Hollywood Reporter that his career has been in a slump for quite a while, which has fueled Levi’s resentment.

According to one reference, getting chosen to play Shazam was like a long-cherished dream coming true for Levi. He’d always wanted to make a big impact in the superhero genre, yet, as you might guess, his ambition in this field hasn’t been realized so far.

When he landed the role of Shazam, it had been a long-held dream of his. He believed it would catapult him to stardom, similar to Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) or Chris Evans. However, things didn’t turn out as planned, and he now harbors some resentment about the outcome.

Source: THR

The poor performance of Shazam 2 wasn’t entirely due to Levi, as many fans found him fitting for the part. Instead, the second film faltered because it leaned too heavily on generic elements, and by the time it was released, audiences were starting to bid farewell to the DCEU. This decision to wrap up the DCEU with Aquaman 2, which was already planned when Fury of the Gods debuted, may have contributed to its reception.

From what I’ve gathered, it seems I’ve swapped the bustling cityscape of Los Angeles for the tranquil landscapes of Texas. Nowadays, my creative energies are channeled into faith-based productions, which hints that some of my recent endorsements and personal views might be strategic career decisions rather than deeply held convictions.

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2024-10-13 12:13