Zachary Levi Talks About Almost Being Cast as Star-Lord and How James Gunn Helped Him Land SHAZAM!
Zachary Levi is once again talking about the time he almost landed the lead role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy and how director James Gunn helped him land Shazam! Star-Lord would have been such a different style character had Levi ended up in the role. But, Shazam! is definitely a role that fits his personality better.
When talking about how Gunn helped him with Shazam!, he shared the following during an interview with CB:
"Listen, I've known Peter [Safran] now for years because he's my producer on Shazam! and I've known James Gunn for even more years. We have mutual friends and we've had game nights together in LA. I've been at a Christmas party of his and almost was Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. He, James, stumped for me, fought for me when Peter asked him about me. Hey, what do you think of Zach because we're thinking about him for Shazam?' James was like, 'Yes, go get that guy, he could really go crush that.'"
This isn’t the first time that Levi has talked about it. In fact, he’s gone into more detail on how his journey to play Star-Lord led him to Shazam!, he previously shared:
"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."
Chris Pratt made the right choice to take on the role of Star-Lord because he’s just so good in that role. In the end, everything worked out for everyone. Do you think that Levi would have been good in the role of Star-Lord?