Zachary Levi is still holding out hope that James Gunn will give him the same treatment Jason Momoa seems to be enjoying in the new DC Universe. After hanging up his Aquaman trident, Jason Momoa is already diving into his next DC role. This time, as Lobo in the upcoming movie, Supergirl. And James Gunn couldn’t be happier about it. He’s been openly excited to work with Momoa. Gunn even wrote on X,
I’ve loved watching Jason bring him to life & can’t wait to share that with all of you.
And now, Levi has made it pretty clear he’d love another shot at playing Shazam, or even someone entirely different. He said (via Feature First),
If James and the powers that be said, ‘Hey, we would love to bring you back as Shazam,’ or if there was some other DC character… I love comic books.
Zachary Levi wants to return to the DC Universe.
“If James and the powers that be said "Hey, we would love to bring you back as Shazam," or if there was some other DC character… I love comic books.'”
(Via: @Feature_First | https://t.co/lZmsB3BNs2) pic.twitter.com/wR4HGofpLC
But as he openly admits, any decision about his future in the DCU is far above his “pay grade,” especially now that Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted universe is picking up speed and leaving the old DCEU deep in the rearview mirror.
Zachary Levi’s 2023 Jab at James Gunn Over Favoritism
Let’s go back to late 2023. Back then, DC films were dropping like confused puzzle pieces in both the DCEU and the newborn DCU. Zachary Levi wasn’t exactly sitting quietly in the corner. The studio was in a weird identity crisis. Old actors were being shown the door, and new plans were being teased.
So when Levi cracked a sly joke about James Gunn’s casting choices, it felt like he basically said what a chunk of the internet had been yelling into the void. After being told that Sean Gunn, James Gunn’s brother, had been cast as Maxwell Lord following his role as Weasel in Creature Commandos, Levi dropped the now-infamous comment. He said (via The Wrap),
Listen, when you’re the brother of the guy who runs DC, I guess you get to play whoever you want.
It was cheeky. And it was just controversial enough to make people wonder if he had maybe poked the bear a little too hard. Levi’s future as Shazam already looked shaky after Shazam! Fury of the Gods fell flat.
But Levi’s jab landed at a moment when public frustration was peaking, so instead of getting roasted for it, he ended up saying exactly what fans were complaining about. DCU reboot felt inconsistent, selective, and messy. Whether the comment hurt his chances moving forward is something only the folks inside DC Studios know, but it certainly didn’t help calm the “Is Shazam out forever?” speculation.
Zachary Levi Still Hopes for Another Chance to Don the Cape in DCU
Despite the chaos, the uncertainty, and the occasional eyebrow-raising quote, Zachary Levi has never pretended he’s over the role. In fact, when Variety asked him earlier this year if he’d come back as Billy Batson’s supersized alter ego, he didn’t hesitate. He said (via Comic Book),
Absolutely. I loved playing the role.
But he was also very aware of reality, adding that he has “no idea” what the studio plans to do with him, Shazam, or any leftover DCEU characters. With the new DCU finally moving forward and fresh casting already underway, the writing on the wall isn’t exactly subtle — the old universe is done, buried, and officially labeled “non-canon.”
For now, all he can do is wait and hope that Shazam gets one more chance to crack jokes, yell “Shazam!” into the sky, and annoy villains with childish enthusiasm. And honestly, even if James Gunn doesn’t bring him back as the big red hero, Levi seems open to showing up somewhere else in the DCU. He just wants back in the playground.
Do you think James Gunn will ever make a movie with Zachary Levi? Let us know in the comments.
Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods are available to stream on HBO Max.
