Tag: Zachary Levi

Zachary Levi Unleashes His Imagination in “Harold and the Purple Crayon”

The enduring family classic Harold and the Purple Crayon has a playful new twist in the film adaptation, where Harold is no longer a toddler, but grows up and travels to the real world. Playing the titular character is Zachary Levi, who’s no stranger to showing off his comedic chops with roles like Billy Batson in Shazam! “Zac embodies everything that Harold stands for: whimsy, childlike wonder, a kind of joyful optimism,” says executive producer Jeremy Stein. “I really, truly look at Zac and think of Tom Hanks in Big. He sells Harold’s journey with such magnificent maturity and sympathy.”

Levi is excited about Harold’s new journey beyond his fantastical world, and the deeper meaning behind all the laughter. “When I saw the script, I loved the idea of Harold getting out of his comfort zone, going into the real world, and embarking on an adventure with innocence and wide-eyed naivete,” Levi says. “That quest for answers is a driving force for him.”

Tanya Reynolds, Levi’s co-star who plays Harold’s friend Porcupine, feels that there’s a lot of Harold’s qualities in Levi. “Harold is filled with joy and thrilled to be alive,” she says. “Zac has that same lovely, playful, and wholesome energy.”

Levi shares that his friends have been excited to see him don the iconic Harold onesie when they found out about his role in the film. “When I tell my friends I’m working on Harold and the Purple Crayon, they try to figure out who I’m playing,” says Levi. “When I tell them Harold, they just laugh. I think they’re hoping to see me running around in Harold’s onesie.” He grins. “They may or may not get to see a little of that.”

Let your imagination go wild as Harold and the Purple Crayon opens in PH cinemas on August 21.

About Harold and the Purple Crayon

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life – and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends’ creativity to save both the real world and his own. Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades.

Directed by Carlos Saldanha and produced by John Davis, the live-action hybrid family adventure/comedy stars Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, Jemaine Clement, Tanya Reynolds with Alfred Molina and Zooey Deschanel. The film’s screenplay is written by David Guion & Michael Handelman, based on the book by Crockett Johnson.

In cinemas in August, Harold and the Purple Crayon is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #HaroldAndThePurpleCrayon @columbiapicph

_{Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”}

August 14, 2024
“Harold and the Purple Crayon” Comes to Life in a New Fantasy Comedy Film Starring Zachary Levi

Countless families have cherished Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon since its publication in 1955. The timeless story of an adventurous toddler who creates entire worlds with his magical purple crayon is getting a delightful twist in its latest film adaptation. In this version, Harold has grown up in his fantastical world and decides to draw a door into the real, modern world.

An Adventure Beyond Imagination

Producer John Davis shares insights into the thrilling journey Harold embarks upon in the film. “Harold and his friends are transformed from characters on the page to adventurers on a journey of self-discovery,” Davis says. “Their story is brimming with passion, imagination, and a sense of heart.”

Oscar-nominated director Carlos Saldanha, who read the original story to his own children, brings a deep personal connection to the film. “The original story is very simple and charming,” he reflects. “I love the way this movie expands on it. In the book, Harold is very sheltered, but entering the real world exposes him to the harsh realities of everyday life. He discovers new emotions, becoming a more complete and fuller human character, all while retaining his innocence.”

A Star-Studded Cast

Playing the role of the intrepid Harold is Zachary Levi, who sees the film as more than an adaptation. “Harold and the Purple Crayon is a love letter to imagination itself,” Levi remarks. “There is no Harold without imagination. The power of imagination is just as integral to the movie as it is to the book.” When asked what he’d draw if he had Harold’s purple crayon, Levi opts for convenience. “The airplane scene was a lot of fun,” he says. “Maybe I’d draw a plane.”

Co-star Zooey Deschanel, who has also read the book to her children, shares her excitement. “I’ve been reading the book to my kids since they were really little,” she says. “It’s a much beloved book in my house, and I think this is the type of movie parents will want to go see with their kids.”

Rediscovering the Magic

Director Saldanha finds magic in something as mundane as a crayon and invites audiences to share that magic and rediscover the power of imagination. “Pick up a crayon, and the possibilities are endless,” he enthuses. “With everything happening in our daily lives, we forget the power of the imagination, the power of believing, the power of dreaming, and the power of ‘drawing’ your way into a better place. This film invites audiences to rediscover that magic.”

So, grab a friend and set off into a world of adventure as Harold and the Purple Crayon opens in Philippine cinemas on August 21. #HaroldAndThePurpleCrayon

_{Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”}

August 2, 2024
Zachary Levi Returns as “SHAZAM!” in the Epic Sequel “Fury of the Gods”

The film’s amped-up action, new worlds, stakes of mythological proportion, roster of aspirational heroes, exceedingly menacing villains and signature brand of humor perfectly tailored to star Levi made signing on for the David F. Sandberg-directed sequel an easy “yes” even before the script had been penned by writers Henry Gayden and Chris Morgan.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the pitch before I even got to read the script!” recalls Levi. “When David and Henry told me what the whole concept of the second movie was going to be, I was in. I thought, ‘These are great ingredients for building a really wonderful sequel to what we had already created,’ so I was very excited about that and about getting back together with all of the cast and crew I loved so much, and it’s just a really fun role to play. I mean, I get to be a Super Hero, and a really fun one at that.”

Sandberg returned to the helm excited to take the story and characters to the next level. He says, “At the end of ‘Shazam!’ we finally introduced the whole family as Super Heroes, but we just got a glimpse of that. One of the exciting things for me in this movie was exploring more about how they live as teenagers and work as Super Heroes together—and, as you might expect, it’s not always successful. Like Shazam, they are all still young at heart, some more than others, going through everything kids do.”

However, with all of that, there is still one secret ingredient at the core of the story that Levi believes is the real hook for audiences of all ages. He reveals, “It’s wish fulfillment! At some point in all our lives, we had dreams of becoming something like a superhero: stronger, faster, braver, or just more heroic in the world. That’s why comic books exist—these colorful pages full of fantasy, surrealism and magical realism that we can disappear into. Mix that with tons of heart and humor and charm, together with David’s direction, the terrific script, our incredible cast and crew—it all coalesces to create a superhero movie for everyone and just a really entertaining film.”

In Philippine cinemas starting March 15, “SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods” is distributed by Warner Bros. Philippines, a Warner Discovery company. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #ShazamMovie

_{Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”}

March 15, 2023