Hollywood producer DeVon Franklin
who worked on the hit 2014 film "Heaven Is for Real" recently talked
with The Christian Post about the film's impact on both Hollywood and the lives
of people who watched the movie.
The film, which tells the story of
4-year-old Colton Burpo, who claimed to have traveled to heaven during a
near-death experience, was released earlier this year and took the movie world
by storm grossing $22.5 million in its opening weekend.
"In Hollywood what 'Heaven Is
for Real' showed is it really began to continue to legitimize that there's an
audience out there that really wants more content that's uplifting, and I
really think that 'Heaven Is for Real' has opened doors for other content to
come to market. Not just in film, but in television," Franklin told CP
Voice.
According to Franklin, the film's
inspirational content also had a positive impact on people's lives, noting an
email one of his associates received from a person who said the movie helped
them to reconnect with their faith after going through a really dark time in
their life.
(Screenshot: Heaven Is For
Real/YouTube)
"[The person] said that they
were going through a really difficult period of time," he explained.
"So difficult that they were considering committing suicide. And they
watched 'Heaven Is for Real,' and it renewed their faith in God, renewed their
strength, and it helped them get through this really dark period. And so, when
you get emails like that, it reminds me that even beyond the box office it's
important to touch lives."
Franklin's company Franklin
Entertainment will be working on a follow-up to "Heaven Is for Real,"
which is based off a new book that will be released soon titled "Miracles
From Heaven." Franklin will work on the movie alongside producer Joe Roth
and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
The story follows a young Texas girl
who had an incurable disease and also said she underwent a near-death
experience where she had the opportunity to meet Jesus and receive a miraculous
healing. The healing came after several Harvard trained doctors failed to cure
her.
"When we read this book, we
really felt there was so much hope, going back to where we are in the world and
what we think people need. The story really touched me deeply, because I think
we all want to believe in miracles and believe that God continues to hear our
prayers — and not only hear them, but answer them," he said.
"Miracles From Heaven"
hits theaters in 2016.
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