Zachary Levi says Hollywood’s broken, so he’s taking his business – show business – elsewhere.
The 44-year-old actor, feeling sidelined by mainstream Hollywood over his resistance to align with progressive trends, is currently working on raising funds to establish a film studio in Austin, Texas. This studio aims to capitalize on movie industry policies tied to tariffs that former President Donald Trump has discussed.
The star of Chuck, during a Thursday interview with Variety, mentioned how the traditional studio model—already fundamentally shaken over the last decade by a troubled history of mismanaged power dynamics, swift technological advancements, and the rise of new business models—was essentially outdated even a century ago.
The American Underdog actor referred to silent film stars who collaborated over a hundred years ago to establish United Artists in 1919, addressing the subpar conditions prevalent in the entertainment sector at that time.
‘Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and all those O.G.s knew it over 100 years ago,’ the Lake Charles, Louisiana native told the magazine. ‘Hollywood was broken then, and we needed a better system.’
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Actor Zachary Levi, 44, says he feels he’s been frozen out of mainstream Hollywood due to his refusal to go woke. Levi was pictured last fall at a rally in Michigan speaking in support of Trump’s campaign
Levi in 2008 posed with his Chuck costar Yvonne Strahovski and the then-star of NBC’s The Apprentice, Donald Trump, at an NBC Universal promotional event in 2008
Levi added, ‘This industry is crumbling around us. In order for us to survive, we need to have a space for artists that will foster certified organic human-made content.’
Levi in 2008 posed with his Chuck costar Yvonne Strahovski and the then-star of NBC’s The Apprentice – now-President Trump – at an NBC Universal promotional event in 2008. He wound up hitting the campaign trail in support of Trump last summer.
Dailymail.com has reached out to Strahovski and her reps for comment on Levi’s plans and her run-in with the nascent U.S. president.
Levi, who lives in Ventura, California with partner Maggie Keating, told Variety he’s been ostracized for his views on politics amid the turbulent timeframe.
‘I know that there are people that would prefer not to work with me now because of my opinions,’ Levi told the outlet. ‘My team has let me know.’
Variety reported that Levi nodded ‘in the direction of Beverly Hills, where his agents at UTA are headquartered’ when he made the remarks about professional alliances dissolving due to political disagreements.
‘They haven’t given me any specific names, but there are people who prefer not to work with me at this time,’ Levi told the outlet. ‘And it’s unfortunate.’
Levi said that he ‘knew that was probably going to happen’ and figured it into the calculus when making a series of public bold statements.
Levi says he’s currently in the process of fundraising to fully build a film studio in Austin, Texas that would benefit from policies President Donald Trump has spoken about
Levi said ‘Hollywood was broken’ in 1919 when silent film stars united to form a company
Levi added that he ‘didn’t make this decision blindly or casually,’ as he’s landed in hot water at times for his views in support of President Trump, as well as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Levi’s ambitious plans were revealed nearly seven months after the actor was widely slammed after linking the COVID-19 vaccine to the death of Gavin Creel at 48, with fellow actor Norbert Leo Butz saying he was ‘utterly heartbroken’ by the move.
Weeks prior to last fall’s presidential election, Levi posted a controversial one-hour rant on his Instagram October 22.
In it, he said he believed that Creel – his one-time costar in the Broadway revival of She Loves Me who died September 30 following a battle with cancer – ‘would be alive right now’ had he not gotten vaccinated.
Butz left a comment condemning the Shazam! star for mentioning Creel in his politically-charged statement,
‘So incredibly disappointed you would politicize Gavin’s death,’ the Tony winner said. ‘Really tried to give you the benefit here. Made it halfway through, which was hard as hell. But was utterly heartbroken, as he would have been, that you felt the need to use his life and legacy to promote this awful platform.’
Levi endorsed Republican Donald Trump over Democrat Kamala Harris ahead of the election.
Trump dominated with an electoral college total of 312 votes to Harris’ 226; according to the AP, Trump garnered 49.9 percent of the votes with 77,304,184 votes, while Harris had 75,019,616 votes accounting for 48.4 percent.
Levi was slammed after linking the COVID-19 vaccine to the death of his one-time costar Gavin Creel at 48 last September
Butz, 57, (L) left a comment condemning the Shazam! star for mentioning Creel in his politically-charged statement
In his social media statement, Levi acknowledged there would be significant pushback to his words.
‘I know that this is going to offend some people and make some people mad, and I wish it didn’t,’ Levi said. ‘So, a few weeks ago, my friend Gavin Creel died. He was 48 years old, and he was one of the healthiest people I knew.’
‘You better believe that, with everything in me, I believe that if these COVID vaccinations were not forced on the American public, that the theaters weren’t being pushed and leveraged.’
In his statement, Levi said ‘people at the top’ forced those in the Broadway community, including producers and theater owners, to enforce vaccine mandates coming out of the pandemic.
‘They knew the cost benefit of these shots, and it was garbage; guys, it was garbage,’ Levi said.
He added, ‘They knew that there would be plenty of side effects, including turbo cancers – they knew. ‘And I, without a shadow of a doubt, I believe that Gavin Creel would be alive right now – right f***ing now – he would still be alive if that stuff didn’t get put into his body.’
Levi said he felt he was honoring Creel’s memory by ‘talking about’ the divisive issue.
Levi faced criticism from a number of other social media users over trying to link Creel’s death to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Butz left a comment condemning the Shazam! star for mentioning Creel in his statement
(L-R) Peter Bartlett, Byron Jennings, Creel, Levi, Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski and Michael McGrath pictured in NYC for She Loves Me at Studio 54 in March of 2016
One user said in response, ‘Some people shouldn’t be allowed to talk. Shame on you for using Gavin Creel’s passing to spread misinformation.’
Another said, ‘I’ve been a fan since Chuck. I have to admit I’m terribly disappointed.’
Said one user: ‘This…. Was insane. I cannot believe you used Gavin’s passing to spread absolutely blatant misinformation. I think he would be incredibly disappointed in you. Like I’m sure much of the Broadway community now is.’
One put off fan added, Unfollowed … good luck with your new direct to DVD movie career.’
Some fans lauded Levi for taking the risky career move in making a controversial statement in support of his core beliefs.
One said, ‘Good for you for standing up for what you believe in!’ while another added, ‘I don’t agree with you politically but I respect your bravery to voice your opinion.’
Another said, ‘Not even a Trump fan, (I’m DEFINITELY not a Kamala fan) but I absolutely give you respect for coming out in Hollywood and going against the tide!!! Been a fan since Chuck.’
Said another user, ‘I am so proud that you are using your platform to go against Hollywood. Thank you for standing up for what is right. Sorry for the loss of your friend.’
