Octavia Spencer Will Play God In New Film

In reality, God is a spirit. On screen, he will be portrayed as a black woman played by Oscar-winning actress
Octavia Spencer.

Her role will be seen in the upcoming film adaptation of William P. Young's bestselling novel The Shack.

“Those are huge shoes to fill. Morgan Freeman has done it and he’s been quite effective. I’m just going to try to
bring some wisdom to it,” Spencer said in a recent interview with USA Today. “It’s overwhelming.”

The self-published novel on which the movie is based, has, to date, sold over 18 million copies and translated into
9 different languages.

Spencer knows that some aren’t too keen on the notion of anyone acting as the creator of the universe. “It’s like
‘Oh, my God! Someone is playing God.’ But people have to remember it’s a manifestation of God. How (the film
subject) sees God. Not necessarily how or who or what God is,” the 44-year-old explained.

Production will being this spring on the film that Lionsgate Studios obtained rights to make in 2013.

In the book, a man who tragically loses his daughter, encounters three individuals, representative of the divine
trinity, who offer him spiritual healing and comfort during a visitation in a secluded shack.

Actor Forrest Whitaker will write, star in and direct The Shack.