Why Zachary Levi Left California for Texas: Actor Calls State a ‘Failed State’ As He Builds New Hollywood

Zachary Levi has opened up about his decision to leave California for Texas, calling his home state a “failed state” that is “literally and figuratively on fire.”

The 45-year-old actor made the comments during a recent interview with Fox News Digital while promoting his new action thriller The Fix. Levi moved from California to Texas in 2017, when he sold his Los Angeles home and bought a 75-acre ranch outside Austin.

His move was not simply about leaving California. Levi said he wanted to build a different kind of entertainment industry, one where artists have greater control over their work. That vision is now taking shape through Wyldwood Studios, a planned $100 million film and lifestyle campus in Bastrop County that is expected to open its first two soundstages in 2027.

Levi says California no longer worked for him

Levi, who grew up in California, said his criticism comes despite his affection for the state.

“I grew up in California. I love California. It is a failed state,” Levi told Fox News Digital. “It is literally and figuratively on fire.”

He said his decision to relocate was influenced by what he saw as deeper problems in Hollywood and his desire to create an alternative.

“Ever since I started working in Hollywood and I saw how broken it all was, I felt very compelled by God to go build a better Hollywood,” Levi said.

His idea was not just to create another production company. He described a community where artists could own and operate the studio themselves, while also having access to homes, schools, farming and other facilities.

His Texas property became the starting point

Levi said that about nine years ago, he found the 75-acre property outside Austin that would eventually become the foundation for his larger plan.

“We look at the regular world around us, and we see it burning. And we’re like, ‘Can we do this better? I feel like we can do this better,'” he said.

That idea has developed into Wyldwood Studios, a planned hybrid production and lifestyle campus.

The $100 million project is designed to combine film production facilities with housing and wellness spaces. The first two soundstages are expected to begin operating in 2027.

Levi said the move required him to give up some of the things he valued about Southern California, including its weather and proximity to family and friends.

“I left behind a lot of community and family and perfect weather in Southern California,” he said, adding that the larger mission he wanted to pursue was more important to him.

He also acknowledged that Texas has its own weather extremes.

“Fortunately, Austin’s awesome. It’s great, you know?” Levi said. “It can get kinda hot in the summer and kinda cold in the wintertime, but I can deal with it.”

Levi wants a Hollywood built around artists

The actor’s criticism of Hollywood goes beyond where the industry is physically located.

Levi said he wanted to create something similar to a new version of United Artists, with artists having more ownership and fewer middlemen between creators and audiences.

His planned campus reflects that broader vision by combining work and everyday life in one location.

The project is also a significant shift from Levi’s previous career path. He became widely known for the television series Chuck and later played the superhero Shazam in the Shazam! films.

His latest project, The Fix, takes him into a darker action role.

Why The Fix is different for Levi

The Fix, directed by Guy Moshe, stars Levi alongside Liam Neeson and follows former CIA operatives dealing with the aftermath of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Levi plays Tucker, a former operative who becomes involved in a dangerous mission in Tehran after a previous operation goes wrong.

The actor said he wanted something more intense than some of his earlier projects.

“I wanted to do something fun, gritty, darker, in comparison to other roles that I’ve played in the past,” Levi told Fox News Digital.

Neeson, who stars alongside him, also praised Levi’s performance, describing him as “a wonderful actor.”

Director Guy Moshe said Levi’s physical nature made him a natural choice for the action-heavy role. Moshe said he was impressed by Levi’s athleticism and willingness to push himself during filming.

A personal move tied to a bigger ambition

Levi’s comments show that his Texas relocation was not simply a celebrity move from one state to another.

His decision began with leaving Los Angeles in 2017, but the larger goal was to create a new environment for filmmaking that he believes gives artists more control.

That vision remains under construction. Wyldwood Studios has yet to fully open, with its first soundstages scheduled for 2027.

For Levi, however, the move already represents a major change in direction. He left behind the traditional Hollywood environment he had spent years working in and is now attempting to build an alternative on his own Texas property.