Sony’s film adaptation of the popular children’s picture book,Harold and the Purple Crayon, brings together an impressive cast of talented performances. Released in theaters on July 19, 2025,Harold and the Purple Crayonbroke into Netflix’s top 10after an October 31 streaming release. The Oscar-nominated director Carlos Saldanha utilizes the actors expertly, ensuring that their background experiences fit perfectly with theirHarold and the Purple Crayoncharacters.
Although there are some crucial differences,Harold and the Purple Crayonshares the same basic premise as the book. When Harold and his friends draw a portal into the real world, they must seek help to return to their magic homeworld. While waiting for the portal to open back up, Harold, Moose, and Porcupine set out to draw magic in the life of a family of two. Despite,the movie’s middling reviews,Harold and the Purple Crayon’s biggest strengthis undoubtedly its impressive cast, all of whom give fully-committed performances..
Cast of Harold and the Purple Crayon
Zachary Levi As Harold
Date Of Birth: August 15, 2025
Actor:Zachary Levi was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, andbroke big in the ABC TV seriesLess Than Perfect, playing Kipp Steadman. The actor has remained pretty active in television since his start, acting in approximately two projects a year. Notably, he starred in NBC’s American spy drama,Chuck,and voiced Flynn Rider in Disney’sTangled. Since then, Levi has gotten several lead roles in family movies, including DC’sShazam, Terrence Tango inSpy Kids: Armageddon, and Rocky inChicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel(2009)
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget(2023)
Rocky
Character:InHarold and the Purple Crayon,Zachary Levi continues his leading streak by playing Harold. The character comes from a fantasy world that he can create to his heart’s content using a magical crayon. Similarly to Giselle in Disney’sEnchanted, Harold is naive to how the real world works — which contributes to the movie’s comedic elements and conflict as he draws up unusual things that cause mayhem and unwanted attention.
Lil Rel Howery As Moose
Date Of Birth: July 13, 2025
Actor:Lil Rel Howery was born in Chicago, Illinois, and had hisbreak-out role as Rod Williams in Jordan Peele’s acclaimed directorial debut,Get Out. Howery got his start in comedy and has written most of his notable television work, includingFriends of the People, Fox’s sitcomRel, and two HBO stand-up specials. He had supporting roles in the Netflix hitBird Box;Judas and the Black Messiah; the Warner Bros live-action adaptation ofTom & Jerry; and Netflix’sFatherhood. The actor recently starred in several well-received Disney+ and Hulu TV movies, which includeVacation Friendsand the Christmas movieDashing Through the Snow.
Friends of the People(2014-2015)
Judas and the Black Messiah(2021)
Reunion(2024)
Ray Hammond
Character:As part ofHarold and the Purple Crayon’s main cast, Lil Rel Howery plays Moose, one of Harold’s best friends. The character comes from Harold’s imaginary world and used to be a drawn moose. He becomes a man when he exits the drawn world. Howery displays his comedic prowess alongside Zachary Levi, playingthe nervous sidekick who transforms into a live Moose whenever things get scary.
Benjamin Bottani As Mel
Date Of Birth: July 06, 2025
Actor:Benjamin Bottani was born in Phoenix, AZ, andhis performance as Mel inHarold and the Purple Crayonconstitutes his first starring role. The young actor started out in theatrical productions before moving on to movies and TV. He appeared in one episode of Apple TV’s original show,Puppy Place, andThe Chosen, a drama depicting the life of Jesus Christ. In 2023, he voiced Kabir in Adam Sandler’s Netflix animated film,Leo.
Leo(2023)
Kabir
Character:InHarold and the Purple Crayon, Benjamin Bottani plays the character ofMel, a young boy who befriends Harold and his friends. Mel is the only son of a single mother and plays a big role in helping the fantastical characters adapt to the real world. Likewise, Harold’s imagination helps Mel and Terry’s relationship grow.
Zooey Deschanel As Terry
Date Of Birth: June 23, 2025
Actor:Zooey Deschanel was born in Los Angeles, California, andbroke out in Cameron Crowe’sAlmost Famous, where she played Anita Miller, the lead’s big sister. She appeared alongside Will Ferrell in the iconic Christmas movie,Elf, featured in M. Night Shyamalan’sThe Happening, and co-starred with Jim Carrey inYes Man. Deschanel is most popular for playing the awkward and optimistic Jess Day in Fox’s sitcom,New Girl, as wellas for her portrayal of the charming heartbreaker in Marc Webb’s acclaimed movie,500 Days of Summer. She has reprised her role as Bridget in theTrollsfranchise several times.
500 Days of Summer(2009)
Bridget
Zachary Levi’s New Movie Is Weirdly Similar To A 22-Year-Old SpongeBob SquarePants Episode
Zachary Levi’s new movie, Harold and the Purple Crayon, is a fantasy adventure that is weirdly similar to a popular SpongeBob SquarePants episode.
Character:As part ofHarold and the Purple Crayon’s cast, Zooey Deschanel playsTerry, Mel’s struggling mother. Terry sets out to help Harold and Moose after she almost runs them over. As she soon finds out the strange group is not from her world, and encouraged by her son, she lets them stay at her house and gets them jobs in the convenience store where she works.The reluctant character serves as the group’s mature voice, advising against creations that will attract unwanted attention. However, through her interactions with Harold, Terry regains her imagination and optimism.
Tanya Reynolds As Porcupine
Date Of Birth: August 08, 2025
Actor:Tanya Reynolds was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, and had herbreak-out role inThe Delivered, acting alongsideGame of Thronesactor Charles Dance. The actress made minor appearances in several TV series before landing her role as the quirky and artistic Lily Iglehart in Netflix’s popular teen comedy-drama,Sex Education. Reynolds portrayed Mrs. Elton in Autumn de Wilde’s Oscar-nominated adaptation of Jane Austen’sEmma, which starred Anya Taylor-Joy. Since then, she led Robert Popper’s miniseries,I Hate You, and acted inNetflix’s successfulThe Decameronadaptation.
The Decameron(2024)
Licisca
Character:InHarold and the Purple Crayon, Tanya Reynolds portraysPorcupine, another of Harold’s friends. Porcupine also adopts a human form once in the real world. After arriving on earth, she is quickly separated from Harold and Moose and goes on to have an adventure of her own — until reuniting with the group again for the final confrontation with the movie’s villain.
Jemaine Clement As Gary
Date Of Birth: August 12, 2025
Actor:Jemaine Clement was born in Masterton, New Zealand, andbroke out on the sitcomFlight of the Conchords, where he and Bret McKenzie portrayed themselves as musicians wanting to make it big in the industry. Clement has starred in several movies throughout the years, playing a range of characters. However, he has acquired a reputation for portraying the antagonist with roles like Boris The Animal inMen In Black 3, Tamatoa in Disney’sMoana, and Dr. Garvin inAvatar: The Way of Water. Clement also worked with Taika Waititi onWhat We Do in the Shadows.
Flight of the Conchords(2007-2009)
Men in Black 3(2012)
Kiri and Lou(2019-2024)
Lou
Character:As part ofHarold and the Purple Crayon’s cast, Jemaine Clement playsGary, the movie’s villain. At first, the odd character seems to want to help Harold as he knows a lot about the world where he comes from and the power it holds. However, Gary’s true intentions quickly come to light when he takes possession of the magic crayon and uses it for his own devices.
Harold And The Purple Crayon Supporting Cast & Characters
Harold And The Purple Crayon Benefits From A Talented Supporting Actor
Alfred Molina as Narrator: the actor is mostly known for his portrayal of Dr. Otto Octavius in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man 2and Diego Rivera in the Oscar-winningFridabiopic by Julie Taymor. InHarold and the Purple Crayon,he fulfills the role of the Narrator, who tells the story in a voice-over.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Cast
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a fantasy film based on the book of the same name by Crockett Johnson. Zachary Levi stars as Harold, alongside Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, and Jemaine Clement. The film revolves around Levi’s character, who can make his drawings come to life with his purple crayon.
