Zachary Levi To Play NFL Quarterback Kurt Warner In ‘American Underdog’

Zachary Levi continues to elevate his star prowess with a bevy of new and exciting roles. Following the launch of a new DC film franchise with 2019’s Shazam!, the actor will next take his talents to a new NFL biopic. As first reported by Collider, Levi will portray legendary quarterback Kurt Warner in the upcoming feature American Underdog from Lionsgate.

The film will be based on Warner’s critically acclaimed biography All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football, and the First Miracle Season. The inspiring tale takes Warner from stocking supermarket shelves to a Hall of Fame NFL career where he won MVP awards in 1999 and 2001. Additionally, the athlete earned the Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XXXIV when he led the Rams to victory over the Tennessee Titans. Moreover, Warner and the 2008 Arizona Cardinals won Super Bowl XLIII. Overall, Warner touts three of the top five highest single-game passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history.

Jon and Andrew Erwin (I Still Believe) will direct the Levi-starring biopic. The script is a collaborative effort between David Aaron Cohen (Friday Night Lights), Jon Gunn (Mercy Streets), and the aforementioned Jon Erwin. Lionsgate will distribute the picture with Kevin Downes (Mom’s Night Out) and Mark Ciardi (The Rookie) on-board to produce.

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The Shazam! star expressed his excitement to bring the story to life on the big screen in a statement to Collider.

“Kurt’s story is one of relentless faith in his own abilities but even more so in a higher power. When I read Kurt’s story, I identified with the quiet strength he found to persevere. That’s something I think anybody can recognize in their own lives,” said Levi. “This is the kind of underdog story that sports movies are all about, and the fact that it’s true makes it even more special. I’m thrilled to be part of bringing his story to audiences.”

Levi burst onto the scene with a starring role in the NBC series Chuck. Since then, the actor has appeared in films like Disney’s Tangled, Thor: The Dark World, and on Broadway in a 2016 revival of She Loves Me. Up next, Levi has starring roles lined up in the highly anticipated Shazam! 2 and Prisoner 760, alongside Benedict Cumberbatch.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to American Underdog? Let us know in the comments below!

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