Lifetime Television has green lit the original movie Unanswered Prayers, based on the popular Garth Brooks song of the same name that debuted at #1 on the Billboard and R&R charts. The film, which will premiere in November, explores the themes of marriage, family, community and second chances with love, asking “Did I let the one I loved get away or is she right in front of me?” This is the story of a happily married father (Eric Close) living the American dream. When the woman (Madchen Amick) of his high school fantasies returns home, he has to face his past and will be presented with a choice that could change his future forever. Samantha Mathis will portray his wife. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the film will shoot in the Richmond, Virginia, area.
The film’s Executive Producers are Lisa Sanderson, Producing Partner and CEO of Red Strokes Entertainment, and multi-Grammy®-winning country music artist Garth Brooks. Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the #1 selling solo recording artist in U.S. history, Brooks has sold more than 128 million albums and has won every accolade the industry can bestow on an artist. President Obama himself requested that Garth headline his Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial and Garth currently plays 15 weekends a year at the Encore Theatre, Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Emmy® Award-winning Steven Schachter (Lifetime’s The Mermaid Chair, Door to Door) will direct Unanswered Prayers, which was written by Deena Goldstone (Lifetime’s Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story, A Bunny’s Tale) and Joyce Eliason (Lifetime’s America and Gracie’s Choice). Andrea Baynes (Lifetime’s Confessions of an American Bride and Sex and the Single Mom) will co-executive produce. The film is being produced through Red Strokes Entertainment.
“Through his music, Garth Brooks is one of the greatest American storytellers ever, and we couldn’t be more excited to be working with him on adapting ‘Unanswered Prayers’ into a major original movie,” said Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, of Lifetime Networks. “There’s a reason Garth is one of the top selling recording artists of all-time – among the likes of The Beatles and Elvis Presley – and the huge popularity of ‘Unanswered Prayers’ is proof his work touches so many people.”
“I had the pleasure and the great fun of collaborating with Garth and Lisa on a previous Sony Pictures Television movie, Call Me Claus,” said Helen Verno, Executive Vice President, Movies and Miniseries, Sony Pictures Television. “We were a hugely successful team on that project and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with them again on this film adaption of Garth’s iconic song, ‘Unanswered Prayers.'”
Sanderson added, “I have seen ‘Unanswered Prayers’ performed all over the world. No matter what language the audience sings it in, they know all the words and sing along. Executive producing this movie was an important challenge for me. I wanted to make a movie that could add color and life to a song that has truly been loved by millions for 20 years!”
Close is best known for his role as “Martin Fitzgerald” on the hit CBS series Without a Trace and recently starred in Lifetime Movie Network’s Seven Deadly Sins. He also starred in the series Dark Skies and Now and Again, as well as the Golden Globe®-nominated miniseries, Taken. Mathis has a long list of film credits, some of which include American Psycho, Broken Arrow, The American President, How to Make an American Quilt and Pump Up the Volume. She has also appeared on television in the miniseries Nightmare’s and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King, Salem’s Lot and Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s for One More Day. Amick, well known for her breakthrough role on Twin Peaks, was seen on Lifetime Movie Network’s Lies and Deception, in addition to Damages, My Own Worst Enemy and Californication. Her film roles include the upcoming feature Priest, as well as Four Corners of Suburbia, The List and Global Effect.
(Source: Lifetime Television)
