Zachary Levi Blasts California as a ‘Failed State’ That is ‘Literally and Figuratively on Fire’ After Move to Texas [WATCH]

Zachary Levi has sharply criticized his home state of California while explaining why he left Los Angeles for Texas.

Speaking with Fox News Digital beside his “The Fix” costar Liam Neeson, the 45 year old actor described California as a state in crisis.

“I grew up in California, I love California, it is a failed state,” Levi said.

“It is literally and figuratively on fire.”

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Levi sold his Los Angeles home in 2017 and purchased a ranch outside Austin.

However, his move was not driven solely by his disillusionment with California, because it also reflected his longstanding desire to change how the entertainment industry operates.

The “Chuck” star said he had felt compelled by God to create a better version of Hollywood after seeing how broken the industry was.

His vision involved a studio owned and operated by artists, without middlemen, along with a community where people could live and children could attend school.

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Levi eventually found 75 acres outside Austin that he wanted to develop around that idea.

He is now pursuing the plan through Wyldwood Studios, a $100 million film and lifestyle campus on his property in Bastrop County.

The project is designed to combine a production hub with a creative retreat.

Its phased development includes soundstages, production offices, residential housing and wellness spaces, with the first two soundstages expected to open in 2027.

Looking back, Levi acknowledged that leaving Southern California meant giving up close personal connections and attractive weather. Still, he said his larger purpose mattered more than what he left behind.

“I left behind a lot of community and family and perfect weather in Southern California, but when you weigh it all out and you must, you have to come to these points in your life, and you go, ‘Is all of that really worth the thing that I know I’m supposed to go build in the future to make a better world?’ And to me, that calling on my life was more important,” he said.

Levi also expressed enthusiasm about his new home despite the seasonal temperatures. “Fortunately, Austin’s awesome. It’s great, you know?” he said.

“It can get kinda hot in the summer and kinda cold in the wintertime, but I can deal with it.”

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At the same time, Levi is stepping into darker material with the upcoming action thriller “The Fix.”

The movie represents a departure from lighter projects such as the action comedy series “Chuck” and the “Shazam!” superhero film franchise.

Directed by Guy Moshe, “The Fix” follows disgraced former CIA operatives in the aftermath of the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Levi plays Tucker, while Neeson plays Larry, Tucker’s longtime lead and mentor.

After a mission goes disastrously wrong, the team undertakes a dangerous rogue mission in Tehran.

The group pursues a life-changing score and personal redemption while attempting a rescue operation and confronting its past decisions.

Levi said the role offered the kind of change he was seeking.

“I wanted to do something fun, gritty, darker, in comparison to other roles that I’ve played in the past, and this gave me that and then some, because there was all of the great spycraft and twists and turns and revelations throughout the story, as well as this human foundation,” he said.

Neeson praised both the screenplay and his costar during the interview. “It is a terrific script,” he said.

“Really, really good, talented director and writer.”

“He’s a wonderful actor,” Neeson added of Levi.

“I’m not just saying that because he’s here, but he is wonderful.”

Moshe, who cowrote the screenplay with Mark Bacci, said he viewed Levi as a natural choice for the project and saw him embrace the physical demands of the role.

He described Levi as an outdoors person who lives on a ranch, enjoys rafting and hiking, and brought an intense presence to the production.

Elnaaz Norouzi, who plays Zara, also praised Levi as a screen partner.

Zara poses as Tucker’s Persian wife to support his cover as a businessman during the Tehran mission, and the two characters develop an emotional and romantic relationship amid the danger.

Norouzi called Levi a “fantastic actor” and said their chemistry strengthened their scenes.

“And that kind of understanding and that kind chemistry is quite rare, I feel,” Norouzi said.

“And me and Zach really had that and that really helped.”

Along with Levi, Neeson and Norouzi, “The Fix” stars Annet Mahendru, Grant Harvey, Augusto Aguilera and Wes Chatham.

The project places Levi in a grittier role as he continues working toward his broader vision for an artist-driven production community in Texas.

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