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Writer's pictureThomas Bonifield

Art Imitates Life for Francesca Battistelli in "God's Not Dead: We the People"

The Christian singer plays a mother and homeschooler in the fourth iteration of the faith-based franchise.

Francesca Battistelli and Antonio Sabato Jr. in a scene from "God's Not Dead:  We the People."
Francesca Battistelli and Antonio Sabato Jr. in a scene from "God's Not Dead: We the People." Image: Pinnacle Peak Pictures.

With a Grammy award and multiple Gospel Music Association Dove Awards to her name, Francesca Battistelli is rightly known as a star in the world of contemporary Christian music. As for feature films, her only role was a small part in the Christian picture Woodlawn back in 2015, so it came as a surprise to her when she was offered a leading part in God's Not Dead: We the People.


The New York native tells Movieguide that she's "never really done anything like this before," and thought to herself, "why are they calling me?" She liked the God's Not Dead franchise already, though, and felt a real connection to the part since she was homeschooled herself as a child and homeschools her five children.

"My husband said, 'You're not gonna even have to act, this is like you, this character,' and it's true, it was a very natural role to play."

Antonio Sabato Jr. plays the part of her on-screen husband in the movie, which also features Isaiah Washington in a lead role and David A.R. White in a reprisal of his Reverend Dave character, who is fighting for the rights of Christian homeschooling families facing government interference in this one.


Battistelli, currently pregnant with her sixth child, also wrote and sings a new song for the film called God is Good. She released it today and you can find out more about it in this link to her Facebook page where she details how it came together. As for the movie, it will be a three-day limited engagement put on by Fathom Events on October 4th, 5th and 6th and you can find a theater near you on the God's Not Dead: We the People website.



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