Zachary Levi claims that Kevin Feige misled him about playing Thor

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Zachary Levi, the star of DC’s Shazam! Fury of the Gods, recently opened up about his time playing Fandral in Marvel’s Thor films. In an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Levi revealed that Marvel boss Kevin Feige misled him about the importance of his role in the Thor movies.

Levi’s journey to the role of Fandral was not a straightforward one. He was initially cast in the role for Thor (2011), which was directed by Kenneth Branagh. However, due to his commitments to the television series Chuck, Levi was unable to take on the part. Josh Dallas played the character in the film instead.

After Dallas was unable to reprise his role in Thor: The Dark World, Feige approached Levi about playing Fandral again. Despite his reservations about the underuse of the Warriors Three in the first Thor movie, Feige convinced Levi that the role would be more significant in the sequel. However, this turned out not to be the case.

Levi revealed that Feige had assured him that big-name actors like Chris Evans often played more minor roles before getting their big break, citing Evans’ role as Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four films before playing Captain America. However, Levi got the impression that Marvel was not interested in casting him in a more prominent role, stating that “this was Prime Marvel. So it was kind of saying, it could happen, but also I was like, ‘Whatever.’”

Despite his disappointment with the role, Levi said that he “appreciated” the opportunity to appear in a Marvel film. Fans of Levi can now see him as Shazam in the DCU, a role that he seems to be enjoying much more.

Levi’s story highlights the importance of clear communication in the entertainment industry. While Feige may have had the best intentions, it’s clear that the miscommunication surrounding the role of Fandral left Levi feeling disappointed. With the growing popularity of comic book movies and television shows, it’s crucial for producers and executives to be transparent with their actors to ensure that everyone is on the same page.