As the movie industry continues to be shocked by the success of
I Can Only Imagine--the film inspired by the life of MercyMe frontman Bart Millard--film studios have greenlit a number of new projects, also based on hit songs from contemporary Christian music.
Universal Pictures announced the early fall release of
Friends Are Friends Forever, a heartwarming story based on Michael W. Smith's career-defining song, "Friends." The storyline follows a young Michael at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School as he struggles to make deep, meaningful connections. When the class pet dies, it draws the class together to talk about the brevity of life and the power of friendship.
Likewise, Disney/Pixar has picked up an adaptation of Audio Adrenaline founder Mark Stuart's unauthorized biography, which will be titled
Big Big House. The animated film follows Stuart--voiced by John Ratzenberger--as he has a near-death experience from a skateboard accident. The action finds its way into heaven, where Stuart surveys God's house, eats magnificent appetizers, and plays a hearty, but somehow nonviolent game of football. Whoopi Goldberg and Jeff Goldblum guest star as Wingy and Flyboy, two wisecracking angels.
Already generating some Oscar buzz is the dramatic interpretation of Jars of Clay's breakout hit, "Flood," which is based on the true story of how lead singer Dan Haseltine nearly drowned when he fell asleep in the shower and water filled his Nashville studio apartment, and the soul-searching that took place afterward.
Breakfast in Hell, based on the hit Newsboys song "Breakfast," is being described by producers as a "dark, gritty" film that takes place in the afterlife. Loosely borrowing from the biblical story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, the movie follows a wealthy venture capitalist who finds himself in the underworld, searching for a decent bowl of cereal. That film is expected early next year.
Netflix is considering greenlighting a few other Christian music-themed projects, including another Newsboys property, the alien invasion-themed
Take Me To Your Leader, the Skillet superhero epic
Gonna Be Your Savior, and the depressing Casting Crowns-inspired documentary,
If We Are the Body.
