Zachary Levi Credits His GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Audition With James Gunn For Getting Him His Audition For SHAZAM!
Zachary Levi is one of the rare actors who has crossed over between Marvel and DC, having played the small role of Fandral in two of the Thor movies, and of course starring as Shazam! in the first film and its upcoming sequel. But before the role of Shazam came along after he almost landed a much bigger MCU role in the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy.
In a recent interview with The Playlist via its podcast, The Fourth Wall, Levi talked about auditioning for Guardians of the Galaxy director, James Gunn, and how it led to Shazam:
"James 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. Oh man, 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."
"But eventually, and I think smartly, [Pratt] 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."
It is very cool that one missed opportunity turned into the perfect role for Levi. I love him as Shazam, and whole I think he also would have done well as Star Lord, Pratt is great in the part, and I wouldn’t change it. What about you? Would you have liked to have seen Levi in Guardians of the Galaxy?