Movie Based on the Most Iconic Modern Christian Song of All Time: "I Can Only Imagine"

In the heart of Oklahoma City, the cast and crew of the faith-based film "I Can Only Imagine" gathered for a 26-day location shoot, aiming for a spring 2018 release. The movie, directed and co-written by the Erwin Brothers, focuses on the inspiring, unknown true story behind MercyMe's popular contemporary Christian song.

The Erwin Brothers, known for their focus on faith-based and inspirational feature films, ventured into the world of music after starting their career as camera operators for ESPN in their hometown of Birmingham, AL. Their greatest success in the world of music came when they received eleven nominations and were honoured with wins for Music Video of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards for three consecutive years.

The story of "I Can Only Imagine" begins with Bart Millard, the front-man of MercyMe. The song was born after Bart needed a final song to complete the band's first album. The phrase "I Can Only Imagine" first occurred to him when leaving his father's gravesite. Bart's father was stricken with terminal cancer and, remarkably, came to know Jesus Christ during his illness. Bart's relationship with his father was completely redeemed during the two years he took care of his father.

The movie delves into Bart's abusive childhood, which was a stark contrast to his father's redemption. After waking up from a coma, Arthur, the subject of the movie, lost his ability to regulate his anger, and this anger manifested as abuse towards young Bart. However, the story takes a turn as Arthur drops out of college to support his family and has a traumatic accident on a construction site that leaves him with a brain injury and in a coma for a week.

The Erwin Brothers' opportunity to tell Bart's story came about because of one of their other films. Jon Erwin found pitching the movie easy, stating, "It's the song you know, but the story you don't." The movie's cast includes John Michael Finley, the understudy for "Jean Valjean" in Les Miserables, who was cast as Bart Millard due to his background—he was born in Arkansas and grew up in southern Missouri, similar to Bart Millard.

The movie's success in the music industry is well-documented. MercyMe, the band whose story is depicted in the movie, have had numerous successes, including selling over 9 million units and having multiple No. 1 radio singles. Brent McCorkle, a musician and film writer, contributed to the compelling, heartfelt, and emotionally visceral storytelling and soaring scores of "I Can Only Imagine".

The Erwin Brothers' early career stages involved working on smaller film projects and gaining experience in filmmaking before producing "I Can Only Imagine," but specific details on their earliest career stations are not provided in the search results. However, it's clear that their passion for telling inspiring stories has led them to create a movie that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Andy Erwin, Jon's brother, emphasizes that redemption is the DNA of all their movies. This theme is evident in "I Can Only Imagine", a movie that beautifully portrays the power of faith, redemption, and the transformative power of music.

Movie Based on the Most Iconic Modern Christian Song of All Time: "I Can Only Imagine"