By Lydia Jambazian, Contributing Writer
A remake of the first book in the best-selling book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, “Left Behind,” is coming again to the big screen October 3, 2014.
The movie stars Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray and Jordin Sparks in a story about the Biblical endtimes prophecy in Revelation. The movie takes a dispensational view of the Bible and focuses on the so-called “Rapture,” where Christians all over the world are taken up to heaven before the events of the Tribulation. Christian filmmaker, Paul Lalonde, produced and wrote the film, and Vic Armstrong (who has worked on movies such as THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and I AM LEGEND) is the director.
Lalonde and the main filmmakers of the upcoming picture were actually behind the original film based on the book series, LEFT BEHIND: THE MOVIE, which starred Kirk Cameron. Lalonde has a completely different approach to the 2014 remake, as the first Left Behind movie trilogy was “made by Christians, for Christians.” Although the first movie was slightly successful among some Christian audiences, Paul Lalonde hopes to take the 2014 LEFT BEHIND further with an outreach approach.
“I think it can open a lot of doors that would not have otherwise been opened,” Lalonde say. The movie adds to the many Christian and Biblical movies that have been making waves this year, including such movies as SON OF GOD, GOD’S NOT DEAD and HEAVEN IS FOR REAL.
“We’re seeing a number of big, biblical movies on the calendar this year, particularly SON OF GOD, NOAH and EXODUS,” Lalonde noted. “What makes LEFT BEHIND different is that it is a contemporary story that could actually happen at any moment. It’s also a historical account in a sense, because it’s based on a true story – it just hasn’t happened yet. So, it’s very important to us that the core story not be changed.”
Lalonde wants to make one thing clear about the new LEFT BEHIND movie.
“This isn’t a disaster movie. This is a character movie. It’s all about the characters reacting to when the Rapture happens.”
The Christian production companies Cloud Ten Pictures and Stoney Lake Entertainment back the movie.
“I think a lot of the core Christian audience. . . they’re going to be surprised at the clarity with which we presented the Rapture,” LaLonde said.
– Sources: The Blaze, 04/02/14 and 06/12/13, and Variety, 03/28/14.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +1