The Alabama duo executive produces this project that tracks the music legend's journey from brokenness to his Christian faith.
Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin are teaming up again with pastor Greg Laurie for their next project - Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. The documentary is based on a book by the same title and focuses on the music star in 1971 when, with the release of his album The Man in Black, he was at the height of his fame and yet weighed down with drug addiction and depression.
This is the second documentary of this sort from Laurie - the first was Steve McQueen: American Icon - and it follows the same pattern: the California pastor first put out a book and then teamed with the Erwin Brothers to produce the film. As with the inaugural endeavor, Ben Smallbone directs this one; he's the director of the 2016 feature film Priceless, which stars his brother Joel Smallbone of the top Christian band For King & Country, and he directs most of that group's music videos as well.
The Erwins, the team behind hit features like I Can Only Imagine and American Underdog, are producing the film through their Kingdom Story Company. They obtained access to some 100 audio tapes Cash recorded for an autobiography and have never before been heard by anyone but the late singer's family. Jon Erwin says in a press release that he is "excited to share" this production with audiences.
"Johnny Cash is an American icon who undoubtedly shaped the musical landscape. Behind the fame is the true story of a man who was haunted by his own inner demons, and through facing them, ultimately found an unshakable faith in God."
In addition to the aforementioned recordings of Cash himself, the documentary will feature interviews with his son John Carter Cash and music stars like Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd and Alice Cooper, as well as with Christian leaders like Franklin Graham and Laurie.
Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon hits theaters nationwide starting on December 5th for a three-day limited engagement put on by distributor Fathom Events. You can purchase tickets to a venue in your area via this link to their website. There is no trailer out yet for the film, but Christian Film Blog will post it on our website once it is released.