While Joaquin Phoenix’s turn as the Joker in Todd Phillips’ upcoming film aptly titled Joker, is probably the most interesting DC project on the horizon, Zachary Levi taking on the role of Shazam in a film of the same name will perhaps mark a change in the DCEU, one that brings in the fun.
We learn today that Levi originally passed on the role, thinking he didn’t have a shot at being cast. Levi recently spoke with ComingSoon and revealed all the juicy details of how he came to be Shazam.
“My agency sent me an appointment slip for the role of Shazam in the movie Shazam. I knew that the Rock had been cast as Black Adam, so my first reaction is, ‘Why the hell are they sending me this right now?…Aren’t they looking for big stars or big guys?’”
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Levi continued:
“This doesn’t seem like I’ve got a shot at getting this job, to be perfectly honest. Then some time went by. I was reading other things or looking at other things. It came back around. I got another audition for a completely different role. I had no idea exactly what the role was, but they were sides that were written specifically for auditions…I put myself on tape. That was sent to the creative team. Then, I get a call from my agent and they said, ‘Hey, so, what about that role of Shazam that you passed on two months ago, because they think you actually might be very right for this?'”
Situations like this often happen with casting. Previous obligations, and other circumstances such as thinking you don’t have a shot at the role, as Levi did, can lead to an unusual casting, or at least someone who doesn’t seem like the first choice. Often times they work out for the best, the most well known example likely being Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, a role that was turned down by Tom Selleck, due to his commitment on Magnum P.I..
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Source: ComingSoon