Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music and Entertainment
DeVon Franklin: “Oprah, Do Me a Favor!”

DeVon Franklin: “Oprah, Do Me a Favor!”

Last updated on: February 15, 2018 at 10:43 pm by DeWayne Hamby

DeVon Franklin: “Oprah, Do Me a Favor!” 2018-02-15T22:43:22-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

After a box office run that brought in more than $40 million, the Sony Animation/AFFIRM Films film The Star releases on home video this month. Featuring the voices of Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry, and Oprah Winfrey, it tells the story of the Nativity through the eyes of the animals involved.

DeVon Franklin. Photograph by DeWayne Hamby

Executive Producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles From Heaven) spoke to Reel Faith about what drew him to the project, his role in faith-based entertainment, his upcoming release, The Impossible, starring Chrissy Meitz (This Is Us), and calling for favors from his Hollywood friends.

What appealed to you about doing an animated film?

I always wanted to do an animated movie and there really hadn’t been one of faith from a mainstream standpoint done since the Prince of Egypt. It was such a long time ago. I also feel like when you look at family faith animation, that’s a big part of it, but when you look at the faith sector of that, it felt like an underserved market. So being able to do animation was a great opportunity. And The Star, it’s the greatest story ever told and what better way to tell than from the animals’ point of view?

The film did remind me of The Prince of Egypt with the all-star cast and even Mariah Carey on the soundtrack. Were you able to secure the voice cast based on relationships you had developed?

Yes, you know I had a relationship with a lot of the cast members, obviously Mariah, Oprah, Tyler, and Gina Rodriguez. Yes, it was a big part of bringing the movie together when you know personally and kind of articulate the value of it and kind of twist their arm a little bit and say, “Come on, do me a favor!” Thankfully, they were all very willing and I’m incredibly and eternally grateful.

The Star from Sony Animation Pictures is an animated take on the Nativity featuring the voices of Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Steven Yeun, Patricia Heaton, and many more. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation. © 2017 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved

What was the studio’s reaction to how The Star performed?

The studio was happy. In this day and age, when no one loses money, everyone’s happy. So I can tell you that no one lost money, so everybody’s happy.

You’re part of a faith-based entertainment renaissance. How does it feel to be a part of it and what’s encouraging to you?

It feels great. I can tell you that it’s certainly not easy, but the industry is very, very open and embracing of the space. For me to be a part of it and to be able to make movies at the highest level and continue to bring the space to the mainstream, help elevate the quality, it’s a blessing. I’m very, very excited about that and incredibly committed to doing it. I know it’s a very rare opportunity so I take it very seriously. On the other side, the goal is to really motivate and inspire people and use entertainment as the best way to do that.

I know you’re gearing up for The Impossible and you just signed Chrissy Meitz.

That movie, I’m so excited, I’m literally excited. I’m literally getting ready to go to Winnipeg where the movie is shooting. It is freezing cold up there. They call it ‘Winterpeg’ for a reason. Chrissy is an awesome talent and we’re so blessed to have her. This particular movie is all about the power of faith. It’s a mother who prayed her dead son back to life. In the doctor’s record, it is a medical record that said “Patient dead, mother prayed, patient came back to life.” When I heard about, I thought, “I have to tell this story.” It is just so powerful. I’m grateful for it. We’re going to be coming out next year. We’re getting ready to announce the date, so I’m not going to steal the thunder from Fox, which is the studio that I have my deal at. This is my live-action follow-up to Miracles From Heaven. If you loved Miracles From Heaven, I guarantee you’re going to love The Impossible.

And this is the third in a trilogy? Didn’t it start with Heaven is For Real?

Yes, this is the trilogy of these miraculous stories. I think audiences will just be blown away when they see this story and the power of it.

For more coverage of The Star, click here.

Watch Oprah Winfrey talk about her role in the film in this video.

Sony Pictures Animation

The Star

Previous Post

February 12, 2018

'Samson' Star Taylor James Taps Into Fear, Reluctance, and Redemption

Next Post

February 27, 2018 Cast and Crew of 'Living Biblically' Discuss Making Bible-Inspired Sitcom

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Comics Movies Music Plays and Musicals Podcasts Television Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 September 2015 July 2015 March 2015 November 2014 September 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 May 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 February 2012 December 2011 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2011 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 April 2006 February 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 February 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

21 27 39 24