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In his latest film \u201cSarah\u2019s Oil,\u201d releasing this week from Amazon MGM Studios\/Kingdom Story Company\/Wonder Project, Levi portrays Bert, a character transformed by a young girl\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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 \u2014 I think that\u2019s a story that\u2019s so worth telling,\u201d Levi said.<\/p>\n
The actor, known for roles in \u201cShazam!,\u201d \u201cAmerican Underdog,\u201d \u201cThe Unbreakable Boy\u201d and \u201cChuck,\u201d approaches faith-based projects with a nuanced perspective. He emphasizes quality storytelling over heavy-handed messaging, believing that excellence is paramount.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s all message and you\u2019re not working with a team that really understands excellence, nobody\u2019s going to hear that message,\u201d Levi explained. \u201cIf it\u2019s just essentially Bible thumping people with faith elements, but it\u2019s not a really great film, I don\u2019t really want to be a part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Levi\u2019s portrayal of Bert showcases a character\u2019s transformation from self-preservation to compassion. He sees the role as an opportunity to practice empathy, a core principle of his approach to acting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being an actor,\u201d he said. \u201cI love being a storyteller. I love that God\u2019s blessed me with this incredible career that\u2019s now spanned 26ish years of my life. I always felt that calling on my life, ever since I was a little kid, and it\u2019s come true in such profound ways with so many wonderful things I\u2019ve gotten to work on. I love that being an actor really requires the practice of empathy regularly, because you\u2019re essentially walking in the shoes of someone else and understanding what is their motivation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The film\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t put the script down. I was so moved by it. I couldn\u2019t believe that I had never heard this story,\u201d Levi said. \u201cI said, \u2018I can\u2019t not help bring this into the world\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Levi\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all start here ,or at some point in our life, we are in a place of a lot of self preservation, a lot of \u2018dog eat dog\u2019 like, \u2018You got to hustle, you got to do what you got to do to survive.\u2019 And that taps into at least the kind of ego in all of us a little bit. But I think that also he\u2019s a charming, entertaining person who works hard. I try to aspire to be charming and entertaining and hard working. I\u2019d 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\u2019t understand at the beginning of the film, but Sarah\u2019s faith and Sarah\u2019s commitment and perseverance really transforms him.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Levi, storytelling is intrinsically linked to his faith. He believes that creating excellent work is a form of spiritual expression, stating, \u201cGod is about excellence. So if you\u2019re trying to make a faith-based movie, but you\u2019re not about excellence, then I don\u2019t think that you\u2019re really hitting where God wants you to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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\u2026 I can\u2019t not be a part of that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSarah\u2019s Oil,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n