As Shazam, Zachary Levi led a superhero franchise clearly geared towards families and kids. While that run in the DCEU is over, Levi is still targeting family-friendly projects. In Harold and the Purple Crayon, Levi plays the adult version of the character from Crockett Johnson’s beloved book series.
So what does Harold do now that he’s a grown-up? Easy, he uses his magical crayon to draw himself out of the book’s pages and into our reality, where things go humorously awry. Harold has a lot to learn about what real life is.
The film is directed by Carlos Saldanha, best known for the Ice Age and Rio franchises. Joining Levi in the cast are Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, Jemaine Clement, Tanya Reynolds, Alfred Molina, Ravi Patel, and Zooey Deschanel.
Here’s the synopsis: Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life—and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends’ creativity to save both the real world and his own. Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades.
Sony Pictures has been trying to get this project off the ground since acquiring the rights in 2010. Will the wait have been worth it? Harold and the Purple Crayon opens in theaters on August 2nd.
