Smallville and Its Impact on Superhero TV was huge for its time. Smallville debuted in 2001 and paved the way for modern superhero television. It featured many DC characters, including Lex Luthor, who was played by Michael Rosenbaum.

Zachary Levi’s Failed Attempt To Land Superman Role

During the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Zachary Levi, who played Shazam, shared that he originally auditioned for Superman in Smallville. However, the casting team thought he was “more Lex Luthor” and asked him to audition for that role instead.

Levi’s Excitement For The Role And Ultimate Rejection

Levi revealed that he went through multiple rounds of auditions for Lex Luthor, including a studio test and auditioning for the network. However, the role ultimately went to Michael Rosenbaum. Despite the disappointment, Levi firmly believes that the things that don’t work out in life are all leading to a “really beautiful, prosperous time.”

Miles Millar’s Comments On Levi’s Audition

Series creator Miles Millar revealed that Levi did an amazing audition for Lex Luthor, but his further audition in front of Warner Bros. was “kind of a disaster.”

Levi’s Past And Future In The Superhero Genre

Levi’s interest in the superhero genre runs deep. He had auditioned for Superman and Lex Luthor for DC years prior and even spent some time at Marvel Studios as Fandral in Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok. With Shazam’s future potentially in jeopardy as the DCU looks towards an imminent reboot amid Fury of the Gods’ financial failure, what comes next for Levi? Perhaps he could audition for another role in the DCU or even take another shot at playing Lex Luthor in this new universe.