Zachary Levi calls California a ‘failed state’ and says it is ‘literally and figuratively on fire’ after moving to Texas and building a new Hollywood.
Zachary Levi is opening up about his decision to leave California, describing his former home state as a “failed state” and saying it is “literally and figuratively on fire.”
The Shazam! and Chuck star discussed his move to Texas during a recent Fox News Digital interview while promoting his upcoming action thriller The Fix. Levi said his departure was driven by both his concerns about California and a long-standing desire to create a different kind of Hollywood.
Zachary Levi calls California a ‘failed state’
Levi, 45, grew up in California and spent much of his career working in Hollywood. But in 2017, he sold his Los Angeles home and purchased a ranch outside Austin, Texas.
Reflecting on that decision, the actor did not hold back about his feelings toward his home state.
“I grew up in California, I love California, it is a failed state,” Levi said, adding that he believes California is “literally and figuratively on fire.”
His comments come as Hollywood continues to grapple with questions about production costs, taxes and whether more entertainment projects should be developed outside California.
Levi wanted to build a different Hollywood
Levi said his concerns about the entertainment business began long before he moved to Texas.
After working in Hollywood and seeing what he described as a broken system, the actor said he felt compelled to create a new model for filmmaking.
His vision is inspired in part by the idea of a modern United Artists-style company that would be owned and operated by artists rather than relying heavily on traditional middlemen.
Levi said he envisioned more than just a place where movies and television shows are produced. His concept includes a community where people could live, children could attend school and residents could have access to an organic farm and other amenities.
Zachary Levi builds $100 million Texas studio
Levi’s Texas plans have developed into Wyldwood Studios, a planned $100 million film and lifestyle campus on his 75-acre property in Bastrop County outside Austin.
The project is designed to combine entertainment production with residential and wellness facilities.
The campus is expected to include soundstages, production offices, housing and spaces intended to create a more integrated environment for filmmakers and other creative professionals.
The first two soundstages are expected to open in 2027, giving Levi’s Texas vision a major new phase.
Levi admits leaving California was difficult
Despite his criticism of California, Levi acknowledged that leaving was not an easy decision.
The actor said he left behind family, community and the famously pleasant Southern California weather.
Still, he said he ultimately believed the opportunity to pursue what he considered a larger purpose was more important.
Levi also praised life in Austin, joking that the Texas weather can become extremely hot in summer and cold in winter but saying he has learned to live with it.
‘The Fix’ gives Levi a new action role
Levi’s comments came while he was promoting The Fix, an upcoming action thriller in which he stars alongside Liam Neeson.
The project represents a shift from some of Levi’s best-known roles, including his work on Chuck and the Shazam! superhero films.
During the interview, Levi and Neeson also discussed their work together, while co-star Elnaaz Norouzi recently praised the chemistry she shared with Levi on screen.
Zachary Levi’s Hollywood vision moves to Texas
Levi’s decision to leave California reflects a broader conversation about the future of the entertainment industry.
For the actor, however, the move is not simply about abandoning Hollywood. He is attempting to create an alternative to the system he believes needs to change.
With Wyldwood Studios under development, Levi is betting that Texas can provide the setting for his vision of a more artist-driven Hollywood.
His criticism of California may be blunt, but his larger goal appears to be building something he believes can give filmmakers more control while creating a community around the production process.
For Zachary Levi, the next chapter of his Hollywood career is no longer centered in California. It is taking shape on a 75-acre property outside Austin.
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