Erwin Brothers on Filming AMERICAN UNDERDOG: ‘You Never Know How God is Gonna Work’
By Movieguide® Staff
The Erwin brothers don’t compromise on their faith, even with box office hits as I CAN ONLY IMAGINE and I STILL BELIEVE.
Their upcoming biopic about NFL great Kurt Warner, AMERICAN UNDERDOG, explores faith, redemption, pursuing your dreams, and perseverance.
While the director duo conveyed Warner’s struggle before he made it big in the NFL, they also revealed that filming the movie came with unique challenges.
“We were filming the height of the pandemic in Oklahoma and Texas and it was a crazy ride seeing this film come to life,” Andy told Movieguide®. “But fast forward to now and it’s finished. It’s incredible. We’re really proud of it. It’s gonna be a Christmas Day release. Who would have thought.”
Jon added: “That’s one of the great themes in the story is, you just never know how God is gonna work and things that are incredibly disappointing in the moment, you look back, and you’re like ‘it was meant to be.'”
Jon said that part of the reason they wanted to release AMERICAN UNDERDOG on Christmas day was to encourage people to have faith despite the hardships of the past two years.
“I love that the movie is getting this Christmas Day release so families everywhere can see it together,” he said. “It comes at such a special time, because I just think that we need to be reminded of the possibilities of our dreams, and that God still has amazing plans for us, and that those plans can happen.
“It’s just been such a tough year and a half for all of us, we need to be re-inspired and re-inspired together,” he continued. “I think this is the only way the movie would have happened. You sort of see God’s hand in it. In retrospect, not while you’re in it so much, and that’s one of the themes of the story.”
Andy said that while great stories often focus on the “breakout moment,” perhaps more motivation and inspiration can come when we see the struggle beforehand.
“All of us see that person having that breakout moment they [have] that moment where they become a superstar,” Andy explained. “They think that it happens overnight and this dream just came about. They chase this moment, rather than committing to the process.
“That process sometimes is the years and years of struggle, just taking a step in the next direction and not giving up on who God calls you to be,” he added. “There’s a beautiful moment that happens in that grocery store, where Kurt Warner is looking at the Wheaties box that has another famous number 13 on it, Dan Marino, and just saying, ‘I want to be that guy.’ But he was so far from that dream. But he didn’t quit, he didn’t give up. But in all those years of struggle, God really helped him discover who he truly was, apart from what he did, apart from his job. [Warner] discovered that heart of a champion, through his family, through his kids, through his wife, and ultimately his relationship with God.”
The Erwin brother’s agreed that Zachary Levi was born to play the role of Kurt Warner due to their connection of faith.
“Zach and I connected about 10 years ago, because we both were people of faith in the industry. Then we lost touch and then all of a sudden, when he got cast as Shazam we had I CAN ONLY IMAGINE coming out around the same time and we reconnected and just started dreaming, ‘let’s do something together,'” Andy said. “And then this project fell in our laps, that was just like tailor made for Zach Levi. It was a God thing even in that.”
Check back to Movieguide.org on December 16 for the full review for AMERICAN UNDERDOG.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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