Zachary Levi is stepping into the storm this week. Two films. A public fight over politics. And a superhero door that might not be closed. I can confirm Levi is standing at a career crossroads, and he knows it. The stakes feel personal, and they feel big.
Two films, one decisive week
Levi leads Not Without Hope, a survival thriller based on the 2009 Gulf tragedy that left him as Nick Schuyler, the lone survivor at sea. The film bowed at the Austin Film Festival and hits U.S. theaters on December 12, 2025. It is raw and human. It is built on endurance, guilt, and grace under pressure. The role pushes Levi beyond the quippy charm fans know.
Not Without Hope opens nationwide on Friday, December 12, 2025.
Sarah’s Oil is already in theaters, and it shows a different gear. The faith-based historical drama casts Levi as Bert Smith, a steady hand in a story about belief, money, and a young Black girl’s sudden power in early 1900s America. The timing is no accident. Levi is proving range, and he is doing it in front of very different audiences.
The politics and the price
Levi has said he has faced real pushback in Hollywood. He calls it graylisting. He links it to his public views, including skepticism of COVID vaccines and support for Donald Trump. That stance follows him into every room. Some doors stay closed. Others open wider.
This is where things get complicated. Levi’s fan base is broad. Chuck loyalists never left. Shazam fans still quote him in lines. Faith audiences are embracing Sarah’s Oil. The question is not if people are watching him. The question is which parts of his audience show up at the same time.
Levi says he is open to rejoining superhero cinema if the right call comes.
The DC question he cannot escape
Levi is not begging for a cape. But he is not burning that bridge either. He has said he is open to returning to the DC Universe, either as Shazam or in a new role, if James Gunn and Peter Safran want him back. That is a smart play. It respects the new DC leadership and keeps Levi in the conversation without drama.
This is about fit and timing. Shazam remains one of DC’s purest crowd pleasers. Levi brings a kid-at-heart warmth that cuts through noise. If the new DCU needs a hopeful tone, he already did the homework. If they want him for another character, he knows how to reinvent.
[IMAGE_2]
What this means for box office and career
Two launches, one narrative. Not Without Hope targets adult drama fans who want true stories with grit. Sarah’s Oil taps a reliable faith audience that often shows up on Saturday nights with families. Together, they sketch a picture. Levi can open a movie that is not a CGI parade. He can also anchor a values-driven story with a built-in community.
Here is the real calculus, and it is ruthless but fair:
- If Not Without Hope breaks through, Levi proves prestige muscle.
- If Sarah’s Oil holds steady, he proves consistency with faith viewers.
- If DC calls, he steps back into four-quadrant heat without starting over.
- If DC passes, he still has a lane, maybe two, that can pay off.
This moment tests more than his draw. It tests whether Hollywood can work with a star who speaks his mind. It tests if audiences care more about performance than posts. And it tests whether one actor can anchor both a survival story and a spiritual one in the same season.
Cultural impact, in real time
Levi has always sold sincerity. That is his brand. In Not Without Hope, it reads as survival honesty. In Sarah’s Oil, it reads as moral steadiness. In DC, it reads as wonder. He is betting that sincerity, not silence, is the currency that lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does Not Without Hope open in theaters?
A: Friday, December 12, 2025, in the United States.
Q: What is Sarah’s Oil, and is it still in theaters?
A: It is a faith-based historical drama. Yes, it is currently playing in theaters.
Q: Did Zachary Levi say he was graylisted?
A: Yes. He has publicly said he faced work pushback tied to his political views.
Q: Is Levi returning as Shazam?
A: He is open to it, and he is also open to another DC role if asked by DC leadership.
Q: How could this week change his career?
A: Strong results for both films could widen his options, with or without DC.
In short, Zachary Levi stands in the spotlight with two films and one big choice. He is showing his range, defending his voice, and keeping one hand on the lightning bolt, just in case. The next few days will tell us which lane he owns next.
