Shazam! star Zachary Levi adopted a phony English accent to land a part in Disney movie Tangled.
Hailing from Lake Charles in Louisiana, the actor voiced Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert in the 2010 animation – managing to fool the casting director who was against the idea of meeting any Americans about the role.
Related: Why Shazam!'s Zachary Levi was glad he was killed off in the MCU
Stopping by The Late Late Show with James Corden this week, Levi was called up on this fakery by the host.
"Well I'd like to say on behalf of my country: you guys would steal our roles for a long time, OK.
"The English and the Australians, you know what it is? Because Americans love your accent so much that you can just go and audition... you could bomb and be like, 'Oh it's great, I loved meeting you all!' and [the casting director would say] 'Oh my God you're so sexy!'" he joked.
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"But no, yes, I did. I was in Tangled for Disney which was such an incredible film and experience.
"They thought Flynn Rider – the role I ultimately played – they wanted him to have an English accent and they wouldn't even see American actors. Fortunately my voiceover agent knew that I did a decent English accent and she fought for me and I got in.
"I might've been one of the only Americans to get in there and then they gave me the job," Levi added.
In the end, his bosses went on to request he perform with an American accent, which completes just about the most bonkers story you'll hear all day.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods will premiere on June 2, 2023.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
