Pure Flix has announced the latest installment of the "God's Not Dead" franchise, "God's Not Dead: A Light In Darkness" will hit theaters everywhere next Easter on March 30, 2018. The Christian film company also released a teaser trailer for the highly-anticipated film, starring David A.R. White, John Corbett ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), and Jennifer Taylor.
While part one and two of "God's Not Dead" took place in a classroom and courtroom, respectively, "A Light in Darkness" follows "Reverend Dave as he is released from prison to a flurry of controversy. The growing social unrest leads to Dave's church being burned down, a fire with tragic results," according to the film synopsis.
"Devastated, Dave is launched on a painful spiritual journey as he fights against the university trying to keep him from rebuilding his church, and as his belief that "God is good all the time" is put to the test. Along the way, Dave enlists the help of his estranged atheist brother who will support Dave in his legal fight, but also challenges him to recognize that sometimes fighting doesn't require defeating those we disagree with, but rather finding a way to heal, and to rebuild," it continues.
White previously explained to The Gospel Herald that with every "God's Not Dead" film, Pure Flix attempts to both address hot-button issues currently affecting society and spark necessary conversations.
"[The films are] based on what's happening in our society right now," he said. "If you watch the first two, you see all these court cases that were happening at the time. That's our hope, that it's current and relevant."
This film, in particular, will examine the age-old question, "Why does God let bad things happen to good people?"
"To answer those question organically and from truth is hopefully what all of these movies have been about," White said. "I think by showing both sides...we're trying to bring these conversations out, and we're trying to bring them out in a real, organic truth. That's what we're seeking, is the truth."
White said that prior to filming "God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness," he, along with the other producers, prayed together and asked God, "What do you want us to say in this film?"
"There's so much angst going on in our society right now between both sides of the aisle," he shared. "You watch the news, it's constant fighting, constant backstabbing, almost hatred in a lot of ways in our society. It's more than I've ever seen."
The forthcoming film is "about healing, no matter what side of the aisle you're on," according to White.
"It's about forgiveness, hopefully, it's about bringing those sides together," he told GH. "Ultimately it's about saying, 'Lord, what do you want me to do right now? Help me to do that to my neighbor, help me to do that for the person across the street, help me to do that [in] my broken relationship with my mom, my dad, my spouse, my brother, my sister. It's about healing."
The original "God's Not Dead" is the highest-grossing independent faith film of 2014, raking in over $60 million at the box office.
Additional cast members include Emmy Award-winner Gregory Alan Williams, Mike C. Manning, Samantha Boscarino, rap artist Shwayze, Jennifer Cipolla, and music legend Dr. Cissy Houston. Reprising his role from the first "God's Not Dead" movie is Shane Harper ("Josh").
Watch a teaser trailer for the film below:
