James Gunn and Peter Safran have already shown that they’re not above making the tough calls as the co-CEOs as DC Studios, but will that extend to people the duo would consider close friends? One way or another, we’ll find out when the future of Zachary Levi and his Shazam! franchise is revealed.
The actor has been doing an expert-level job of dodging any and all questions that come his way regarding his short or long-term association with the rebooting superhero series, and he’s been back at it again. That being said, his comments in an interview with ComicBook might sound a tad smug or self-serving when you consider his recent social media activities that have seen him come under fire for espousing opinions capable of lighting a fire under the internet.
“Listen, I’ve known Peter 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.'”
He’s not trying to rub it in anyone’s face, but it can be construed as coming across that way when you remember that he recently vacationed with the Safran family, all while the likes of Henry Cavill, Dwayne Johnson, Ben Affleck, and perhaps even more besides pack their bags and head to pastures new.
With incoming sequel Fury of the Gods tracking for one of the DCU’s weakest-ever box office runs, not even friends in high places may be enough to secure Levi another shot at headlining a solo blockbuster, even if it might end up with Gunn and Safran being taken off the Christmas card list.