According to ScreenRant, Zachary Levi (American Underdog, Alvin & The Chipmunks, Thor: The Dark World) talked about his auditions as Superman and Lex Luthor in the kryptonian based TV series, Smallville. Although Levi went on to greater role in 2019 after being cast as the lead role in the superhero origin story Shazam!, he still voiced his regrets in an interview with The Direct at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.
Levi addresses his auditions saying, “When it came to Smallville… I originally auditioned for Superman… Didn’t get it. Wasn’t meant to me, wasn’t meant to be. But at the audition for Superman, they go, ‘Hey listen, you did a great job. But we actually think you’re more Lex Luthor. Would you mind taking a look at these sides?’ And I was like, ‘OK.’ And I took a look and these things and I came back in and I read for Lex and they were like, ‘Yeah, that’s great, we’re going to have you read for producers.’ And I read for producers, and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, yeah, we’re going to send you to studio test.’ And I studio-tested, and then I went all the way to the network and David Nutter, who directed the pilot, I had work sessions with him, I was like, ‘I’m going to be Lex Luthor!’ I was convinced I was going to be cast as Lex Luthor, move to Vancouver, and shave my head. It was all happening, and then it didn’t. I went all the way to network and they were like, ‘Nah, not really our guy.'”
Levi then continues about his career in acting and whether the role of Lex Luthor would’ve been right for him stating, “It’s OK, it wasn’t meant to be. And obviously, I say that with a little bit of a wink. But truthfully, it wasn’t meant to be. The things that don’t work out in our lives, guys, are actually working out for us. Life is happening for us. I know that’s hard, some of the shit that happens to us is really, really messed up, and it’s really hard, and I’m not saying it’s not. I’m not saying, like, ‘Hey, that should be fine, just move past it!’ No. Metabolize that pain. Metabolize whatever dark shit happens in your life. Work through that. But know that that dark period can lead to and will lead to, if you allow it, a really beautiful, prosperous time in your life. But that’s the hard stuff that we have to go through. So anyway, not to tangent too much… So that was ultimately my auditioning journey with Smallville.”
Smallville follows the event of a young kryptonian orphan Kal-El or Clark Kent, as well as developing young heroes and nemesis’ including Green Arrow, Black Canary, Hawkman, Brainiac, Captain Cold, and of course Lex Luthor.
Although Levi didn’t get any of the roles for the Smallville series, he eventually went on to play a better movie role that honestly better suited his acting style. Fans love seeing Levi as kid superhero Shazam, with Levi’s second iteration of the hero coming back to the big screen in Shazam!: Fury of the Gods now available at most major motion theaters.