Octavia Spencer Talks About Playing God In “The Shack” Posted by Justine Browning
February 27, 2017
Coming out this week is the faith based film “The Shack,” starring Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer.
An adaptation of the best-selling novel by William Paul Young, Stuart Hazeldine directed the film, with Gil Netter producing through Netter Productions along with Brad Cummings.
Originally published in 2007, the novel follows a man (Worthington) whose youngest daughter is abducted during a family vacation, with evidence found in an abandoned shack leading authorities to believe she was murdered. Four years later, the man receives a note, apparently from God (Spencer), inviting him back to the shack. Against his better judgment, he accepts the invitation and finds something there that will change his life forever.
Lionsgate acquired rights to the book in 2013; “The Shack” has sold more than 19 million copies in 39 languages, including 10 million in the U.S. alone.
Spencer is the 3rd Black Oscar Winner to play God on the big screen and the 2nd Black female, joining Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty) and Whoopi Goldberg (A Little Bit of Heaven).
Coming off her recent Oscar nomination for her in Hidden Figures, Spencer spoke with Blackfilm.com correspondent about playing God.
The Shack hits theaters March 3.
Interview with Octavia Spencer
