Oklahoma’s growing film industry is making it an increasingly attractive destination for professionals and creatives alike. In a recent interview with The Oklahoman, actor Zachary Levi, known for his roles in Shazam! and Tangled, detailed his upcoming filmed-in-Oklahoma project and why he moved to Oklahoma.
Filmed in 2020, Levi’s new film The Unbreakable Boy debuted in theaters this February. The experience sparked such a deep appreciation for the state that the Louisiana native purchased a home in Tulsa.
But Levi’s connection with Oklahoma goes beyond the picturesque landscapes and welcoming atmosphere. He was also drawn to the state’s film incentives and the strong support from the local film community. Since 2020, he has starred in two more movies that were made in Oklahoma, American Underdog and the upcoming Sarah’s Oil.
Oklahoma’s film commission played a key role in bringing projects like The Unbreakable Boy and American Underdog to fruition, and Levi hopes to continue fostering the growth of the industry within the state. “I bought a house in Tulsa, with the intention of — hopefully, still, one day — buying a bunch of land in the Tulsa area and building a movie studio/living community,” Levi said.
- Booming Industry: Over the last decade, Oklahoma’s film incentive program has attracted over $300 million in production to the state.
- Work in Film: Oklahoma’s film industry has created thousands of part-time and full-time jobs, with over 8,000 Oklahomans working in the sector in 2023.
