‘Shazam!’ Star Zachary Levi Reveals He Almost Played This ‘Smallville’ Character

It’s been almost 17 years since The WB’s young Clark Kent series, “Smallville,” debuted, but secrets about the show are still coming out. The latest revelation arrived Tuesday via podcast — not an other-worldly pod — when Zachary Levi shared he’d auditioned for the show.

During the most recent episode of the “Inside of You” podcast, hosted by “Smallville” actor Michael Rosenbaum (who played Lex Luthor), Levi revealed the two actors met many years ago and have even gone out for the same roles.

“We’ve just kind of bumped into each other over the years,” Levi said of his relationship with Rosenbaum. “And ‘Smallville,’ I don't know if I’ve ever told you this, I tested for Lex Luthor and really thought I was going to get that job.”

This confession came as a surprise to Rosenbaum, who, of course, ended up landing the role. Despite the unexpected revelation, Rosenbaum told Levi he “would’ve been great” in the role, something the “Shazam!” actor wasn’t too sure about.

“Eh, I don’t know about that,” Levi said. “I think you were fantastic on the show and it wasn’t my path. But that was always one of those things because I didn’t even really know you at that point, but just the way that our lives, in this town, are so intertwined.”

Apparently, their lives “intertwined” quite a few years later when the two actors each tested for another major comic book role.

“We also tested for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ for Star-Lord,” Rosenbaum revealed.

Not realizing they both went out for that character, Levi asked in confirmation, “Yeah, you tested for Star-Lord, too?” He continued to explain that losing this casting was hard on him because he “wanted that so bad.”

While Levi said it broke his heart, Rosenbaum had a much more positive outlook on not winning the role, which ultimately went to Chris Pratt.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I gave it my all, I thought I did great, I was up for it, they liked me,’” he said. “I knew I had no chance because I didn’t think they were going to give [me] a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Marvel movie, let me be the lead role coming off Lex Luthor from DC.”

In spite of not getting the movie part, the actors both agreed that Pratt was the best choice, with Rosenbaum calling him “brilliant” and Levi following it up with the word “perfect.” Still, it all ended up working out for the two of them because Rosenbaum landed the role of Martinex in the “Guardians” sequel, and Levi’s set to play the titular character in the upcoming DC flick “Shazam!.”