{"id":2181081,"date":"2025-11-29T18:12:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T18:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2181081"},"modified":"2025-11-29T18:12:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T18:12:23","slug":"zachary-levi-says-hollywood-didnt-really-care-about-faith-based-films-until-there-was-money-to-be-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/zachary-levi-says-hollywood-didnt-really-care-about-faith-based-films-until-there-was-money-to-be-made\/","title":{"rendered":"Zachary Levi says Hollywood didn\u2019t \u2018really care\u2019 about faith-based films until there was money to be made"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Zachary Levi has traded in his superhero suit for a true-life story steeped in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/faith-values\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:faith and American history;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">faith and American history<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The &#8220;<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/entertainment\/movies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Sarah\u2019s Oil;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Sarah\u2019s Oil<\/a>&#8221; star exclusively told Fox News Digital that the reason this film is finally being made reveals more about Hollywood than anyone expected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When asked why Hollywood ignored it for so long, Levi didn\u2019t hesitate to answer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Well, I think a lot of people just didn&#8217;t know the story. That&#8217;s why a lot of people hadn&#8217;t made this movie,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/nation.foxnews.com\/featured\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Watch Season 2 Of The;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><strong>Watch Season 2 Of The <\/strong><\/a><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/nation.foxnews.com\/martin-scorsese-presents-the-saints-nation\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Saints;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><strong>Saints<\/strong><\/a><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/nation.foxnews.com\/featured\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:On Fox Nation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\"><strong> On Fox Nation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Zachary Levi has traded in his superhero suit for a true-life story steeped in faith and American history.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But he also pointed to a shift inside the industry itself. &#8220;Faith-based movies or faith-infused movies, really in the last 10 years, have started to show just how effective and lucrative they can be\u2026 which is why a lot of studios have spun up branches of the studio to focus on those types of films.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS\/mvaj7wvj\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Read On The Fox News App;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong><u>Read On The Fox News App<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Levi added that earlier eras of Hollywood simply weren\u2019t interested \u2014 not until studios realized how strong the audience was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Prior to 10 years ago, I don&#8217;t know that anybody would have touched it because I don&#8217;t think Hollywood really cared until they saw that there was money that could be made in that world\u2026 there&#8217;s a lot of really faithful people that go to church regularly and want stories that reflect their same faith.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For Levi, whose personal faith has been front and center in his public life, the spiritual lens does shape his career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/zachary-levi-graylisted-hollywood-speaking-truth-blowback\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zachary Levi Says He\u2019s 'Graylisted' By Hollywood, Vows To Keep Speaking His Truth Despite Blowback;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Zachary Levi Says He\u2019s &#8216;Graylisted&#8217; By Hollywood, Vows To Keep Speaking His Truth Despite Blowback<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Zachary Levi at the premiere of &quot;Shazam! Fury of the Gods&quot;\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/0Bfgm3C8MifXckew6JODag--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/fox_news_text_979\/621e8c5eb76e02e3f809705722d4ea42\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>For Levi, whose personal faith has been front and center in his public life, the spiritual lens does shape his career.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;There are certainly roles and projects that I have chosen to pass on because I just felt like there was no way I could see any kind of redemption in them,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But that doesn\u2019t mean only religious films make the cut.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>WATCH: ZACHARY LEVI CREDITS FAITH FOR GUIDING HOLLYWOOD ROLE CHOICES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve done plenty of things that have nothing to do with faith. But they still have elements\u2026 that are redemptive. You know \u2014 good triumphant over evil\u2026 stories that embolden people, inspire people\u2026 give them courage, give them hope.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Levi\u2019s career pivot \u2014 from the bright, explosive world of &#8220;Shazam!<strong>&#8220;<\/strong> to the gritty heartland realism of &#8220;Sarah\u2019s Oil&#8221;<strong> \u2014<\/strong> reflects a deliberate shift toward purpose-driven storytelling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/zachary-levi-claims-supporting-trump-made-him-hollywood-outsider\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zachary Levi Claims Supporting Trump Made Him A Hollywood Outsider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong><u>Zachary Levi Claims Supporting Trump Made Him A Hollywood Outsider<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Actor Zachary Levi poses for photos on the red carpet at the Kansas City special screening of Sarah\u2019s Oil.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/bVsGQNcZqKkh7kz2Bxod.w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/fox_news_text_979\/23cbea27a77df279b135d405e74a989d\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Levi said the real Hollywood compass \u2014 the one that has steered him from comic book hero to historical storyteller \u2014 is spiritual.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When Fox News Digital asked what changed for Levi in the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/entertainment\/events\/industry\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hollywood industry;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hollywood industry<\/a> when it comes to deciding roles, he replied, &#8220;It&#8217;s always a case-by-case basis.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I look at the script first and foremost. Is this a good story? Is it worth telling? Is it well-written?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He also examines whether the role pushes him creatively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Is that a character I would want to portray? Is it a challenge for me?\u2026 I don&#8217;t want to just play the same thing over and over again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Like What You\u2019re Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Like What You\u2019re Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But ultimately, Levi said the real Hollywood compass \u2014 the one that has steered him from comic book hero to historical storyteller \u2014 is spiritual.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;There&#8217;s not any particular specific type of movie that I want to do,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I kind of let God guide me\u2026&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>WATCH: ZACHARY LEVI REVEALS GUIDING FORCE BEHIND HIS HOLLYWOOD CAREER<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Levi\u2019s latest project, &#8220;Sarah\u2019s Oil&#8221; \u2014 produced by Amazon Studios and Kingdom Story Company \u2014 tells the astonishing true-life saga of Sarah Rector, a young Black girl born in early-1900s Oklahoma Indian Territory, who defied poverty and prejudice to become one of America\u2019s first Black female millionaires \u2014 at just 11 years old.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The project has been years in the making, and Levi said it\u2019s been worth it every step along the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Click Here To Download The Fox News App;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \"><strong>Click Here To Download The Fox News App<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;When I read the script, I was blown away,&#8221; the actor told Fox News Digital. &#8220;It was an absolutely true story about this young Black girl at the turn of the century in Tulsa, Oklahoma\u2026 who was intelligent and precocious and spirit-filled.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Levi portrays Bert Smith, a friend of main character Sarah who helps tap into the oil beneath her land. He described their relationship as &#8220;business partners.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Sarah\u2019s Oil&#8221; is now playing in theaters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Original article source:<\/em> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/zachary-levi-says-hollywood-didnt-really-care-about-faith-based-films-until-money-made\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Zachary Levi says Hollywood didn\u2019t \u2018really care\u2019 about faith-based films until there was money to be made;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Zachary Levi says Hollywood didn\u2019t \u2018really care\u2019 about faith-based films until there was money to be made<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zachary Levi has traded in his superhero suit for a true-life story steeped in faith and American history. The &#8220;Sarah\u2019s Oil&#8221; star exclusively told Fox News Digital that the reason this film is finally being made reveals more about Hollywood than anyone expected. When asked why Hollywood ignored it for so long, Levi didn\u2019t hesitate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2181082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[412982,247742,22860,420040,407354,371564],"class_list":["post-2181081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-american-history","tag-fox-news-digital","tag-hollywood","tag-personal-faith","tag-sarah-rector","tag-zachary-levi"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Zachary-Levi-says-Hollywood-didnt-\u2018really-care-about-faith-based-films.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2181081"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2181083,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2181081\/revisions\/2181083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2181082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2181081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2181081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2181081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}