Actor Zachary Levi sees storytelling as more than entertainment — it’s a calling that has defined his 26-year career.
In his latest film “Sarah’s Oil,” releasing this week from Amazon MGM Studios/Kingdom Story Company/Wonder Project, Levi portrays Bert, a character transformed by a young girl’s unwavering faith amid challenging circumstances. The movie, which Levi fought to bring to screen, represents the type of inspirational narrative he believes can bridge societal divides.
“In the world where things are so polarized and so divisive, to tell a story about bringing different people from different backgrounds together under one common cause that is being led by the faith of a young girl in the face of so much adversity — I think that’s a story that’s so worth telling,” Levi said.
The actor, known for roles in “Shazam!,” “American Underdog,” “The Unbreakable Boy” and “Chuck,” approaches faith-based projects with a nuanced perspective. He emphasizes quality storytelling over heavy-handed messaging, believing that excellence is paramount.
“If it’s all message and you’re not working with a team that really understands excellence, nobody’s going to hear that message,” Levi explained. “If it’s just essentially Bible thumping people with faith elements, but it’s not a really great film, I don’t really want to be a part of that.”
Levi’s portrayal of Bert showcases a character’s transformation from self-preservation to compassion. He sees the role as an opportunity to practice empathy, a core principle of his approach to acting.
“I love being an actor,” he said. “I love being a storyteller. I love that God’s blessed me with this incredible career that’s now spanned 26ish years of my life. I always felt that calling on my life, ever since I was a little kid, and it’s come true in such profound ways with so many wonderful things I’ve gotten to work on. I love that being an actor really requires the practice of empathy regularly, because you’re essentially walking in the shoes of someone else and understanding what is their motivation.”
The film’s script captivated Levi from the first read. He was determined to bring the true story to audiences, believing it represented something larger than typical entertainment.
“I couldn’t put the script down. I was so moved by it. I couldn’t believe that I had never heard this story,” Levi said. “I said, ‘I can’t not help bring this into the world’.”
Levi’s character Bert befriends the young Sarah and becomes an unlikely ally in her quest to keep her property. For him, the character represents a particular person who is guided by self-preservation.
“We all start here ,or at some point in our life, we are in a place of a lot of self preservation, a lot of ‘dog eat dog’ like, ‘You got to hustle, you got to do what you got to do to survive.’ And that taps into at least the kind of ego in all of us a little bit. But I think that also he’s a charming, entertaining person who works hard. I try to aspire to be charming and entertaining and hard working. I’d like to think that. Most of my life has been dedicated toward recognizing the needs of others and really fighting for other people, which is something that Bert doesn’t understand at the beginning of the film, but Sarah’s faith and Sarah’s commitment and perseverance really transforms him.”
For Levi, storytelling is intrinsically linked to his faith. He believes that creating excellent work is a form of spiritual expression, stating, “God is about excellence. So if you’re trying to make a faith-based movie, but you’re not about excellence, then I don’t think that you’re really hitting where God wants you to be.”
The actor sees his career as a profound blessing, one that allows him to inspire audiences through diverse storytelling. Whether through comedic roles or faith-driven stories, Levi remains committed to projects that offer hope and inspiration.
“If we have an opportunity to tell stories that are profound and inspiring, and inspire people in their strength and their hope and their faith and their perseverance in the face of all that comes at us in this world… I can’t not be a part of that,” he said.
“Sarah’s Oil,” directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh and starring Zachary Levi, Naya Desir-Johnson, Sonequa Martin-Green, Garret Dillahunt, Mel Rodriguez, Kenric Green, and Bridget Regan, releases this week from Amazon MGM Studios, Kingdom Story Company, and Wonder Project.
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