Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of the critically acclaimed series “The Chosen,” is re-releasing his 2010 film “What If…” to mark its 15-year anniversary.
Jenkins said God nudged him to make the film nearly two decades ago while he was mowing his lawn and praying about his career.
“I really hadn’t accomplished what I’d hoped to accomplish, and I felt God put it on my heart pretty powerfully: ‘I want you to make movies for me and about me,’” Jenkins told ChurchLeaders.
“My kids still tell me today, even though they’re older and cynical and hard to please, they’re like, ‘We love that movie. It’s the best thing you’ve done besides ‘The Chosen,’’” he said.
Since its theatrical debut, “What If…” has built a devoted following because of its impact on viewers. That response, Jenkins said, prompted him to reunite the cast and partner with Fathom Events for a two-night re-release Aug. 5 and 7.
“It’s really a great opportunity for people to laugh, but to also cry, and to see a story that’s timeless,” Jenkins said.
Like “The Chosen” and his film “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Jenkins’ early work in “What If…” centers on redemption.
“When God sacrificed his Son for you, what is our response? Our response should be sacrifice, surrender,” he explained. “We’re supposed to sacrifice so that we can receive his sacrifice. And that message is quite strong in ‘What If…’ And ‘What If…’ is the first movie that I made where I’m like, ‘I want to tell that story in different forms.’”
“Whether it’s ‘What If…,’ ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’ or ‘The Chosen,’” Jenkins said, “the story of surrender, the story of redemption, the story of salvation, is the same. And that’s why I say in my bio on Instagram, I tell Jesus stories. And ‘What If…’ is a Jesus story.”
Asked about his own “What If…” moment, Jenkins pointed to the day God called him to make the film.
