In a 2019 DC Fandome exclusive featurette entitled “The Magical World of Shazam!,” it’s revealed that Levi had initially auditioned to play the adult version of Freddy (Adam Brody). But once the tape was sent over to the folks at DC, it started to click that he seemed like a natural fit for the lead role instead. “He just feels and looks like Shazam,” Sandberg said.
The “Lights Out” filmmaker even called the recently appointed co-CEO of DC Studios, Peter Safran, to make a strong argument for Levi. When they brought it to the “Chuck” star’s attention, he performed a Skype audition that changed everything. “In one week I went from auditioning for a completely different character to being Shazam, which has completely changed my life in all the most tremendous of ways,” Levi reflected.
When you look at the tape, it’s clear that his burst of energy suited what the character called for. The funny thing about this, however, is that Levi does look more like an adult version of Grazer than Angel. He would have been perfect in the role, but it was ultimately the right move, with Adam Brody instead taking over the super suit of adult Freddy.
We get a glimpse of Levi and Brody working together in the film’s finale, but we’ll likely get to see more interactions between the two when “Shazam! – Fury of the Gods” comes out this March.
“Shazam!” is currently streaming on HBO Max.