A Modern-Day Nativity: Actor Aspen Kennedy on 'God with Us'

Ashley Olivia Fisher and Aspen Kennedy in 'God with Us' | Photo Image courtesy Adelaide Pictures
Best known for his breakout lead role in the Kendrick Brothers’ hit film The Forge, actor Aspen Kennedy is stepping into a powerful new story with his latest movie, God with Us.

A contemporary reimagining of the Nativity, the film follows inner-city childhood sweethearts Mary Anne Thomas (Ashley Olivia Fisher) and Joseph “Junie” Love (Kennedy) as they navigate an unexpected divine calling that will challenge their faith, test their love, and change their lives forever.

Blending drama, heart, humor, and soul, God with Us explores the transformative power of grace, growth, and unconditional love.

Featuring a primarily African American cast including Kennedy, Lil Rel Howery (Free Guy), Fisher (Average Joe), and Gregory Alan Williams (Remember the Titans), God with Us is directed by Jimmy Jenkins (Nothing But a Winner).

Ahead of its theatrical release this Friday, November 13th, I recently sat down with Kennedy to talk about the film, his role, and why it is important to tell the greatest story ever told in a contemporary setting.

God with Us imagines a world where the promised Savior never came. What made you want to explore that particular premise?

When I was brought on board and I had a conversation with the director and writer, Jimmy Jenkins. I really explained his vision for it. He did a great job too. As you saw in the beginning of the film, he wanted to make a claim that he did not want to create a re-imagining of the Nativity story because Christ has already come. But just the fact that we can use the platform for film to say, okay, what if that story happened in today's time? Would it be accepted with the pressures that Mary and Joseph had to go through? Because something like that wasn't easy for them. When I read the script, I feel like it was really well written to a point where I feel like people will truly be impacted. So, my yes came from that, hearing his heart behind it and the impact that he wanted to make.

The title God With Us carries a powerful spiritual message. What does that title mean to you personally?

Personally, it's ironic because I feel like, as it relates to my career, but above that, in my life, God has been with me even before I could comprehend His presence or before I even knew what the Holy Spirit was. It's just the fact that I can look back over my life and see the consistency of His presence. Even as a kid. Or seeing Him come through for me and my mom when I was growing up, and just being a husband and a father now. I feel like I've literally been without even making the choice in the passenger seat where God has just taken me on this journey of His goodness, His faithfulness, His providence, and His provision. I'm just truly grateful.

I want to continue to carry that because I know without a shadow of a doubt that it's been Him in my life. Personally, He's always been with me. For those who may not have that relationship or they may not believe, you know, it's from a love and place, I want people to understand that He's a God that he doesn't want anybody to perish. The fact that if we could, God's going to get that message to them. He sends the increase, but if we can just be those seeds for people, I'm excited about this.

Changing gears, I assure you, this film will have its critics who say that unless this movie is word for word from the pages of Scripture, then it shouldn’t be made. Even programs like The Chosen and recent Biblically themed movies have had to deal with this notion. How do you respond to that?

Transparently, it's something I have thought about, but going back to the filming process and hearing Jimmy's heart behind it makes me feel better. We have received a few testimonies from early screenings, and just the fact that Jesus wants to reach the lost. And there are a lot of people who may not particularly walk into the church, but they may be open to watching the film. The current message throughout is just to show that no matter how far you are or if you feel like you are in a relationship with Christ, there's so much deeper that we can go because He is always with us. One of my favorite scenes and characters in “God with Us” is Walter. You get to see where the root of his issue is as far as why he chose not to be a believer anymore. He talks briefly about what he went through and why he did not want to believe again. But you see what happens to him and the fact that he goes back to a place of repentance. He asks God to forgive him because he just didn't know any better. Moments like that represent so many people in our world today. And it's the fact that I know it's not going to be for everybody, but just knowing my intention as well as the producers, the director, and everybody involved, they just want people to truly be impacted. So, I feel like it will reach the people that it needs to reach for sure.

Tell us about your character. Obviously, you play Joseph as related to the Nativity story. Who is he at the beginning of the film, and how does he change throughout the story?

For me, when I wanted to approach it, I felt led to understand God’s humanity. We know about Mary's faith, rightfully so, and Joseph's as well, even though he wanted to call it off privately. But it's the fact that he was a man with real emotions, with feelings, with hopes and dreams for this woman that he loved. To get this proof that she was pregnant and assuming they didn't do anything. So, if that happened in today's time, how sad would somebody be if you truly cared about somebody like that? So, just the humanity for me is something I wanted to experience, make true, and show that it wasn't an easy thing for him to make the decision to still choose faith in spite of everything that was showing him otherwise and for God's greater plan for humanity. That's the kind of journey that I was blessed to take on.

Your character faces a situation that challenges faith, love, and everything they thought they understood. How did you prepare emotionally for that journey?

Jimmy did an amazing job with the script, so it was easy to comprehend, but just that experience of staying in a place of trust as well as the story and being responsible and prepared every day on set. But just understanding that, one, the story is tremendously bigger than me. So, just being able to step into it with confidence to say, "All right God, I ask that you help me navigate the emotions, and everything that you need from this project." As an artist, we strive to prepare and get the best performance, but realizing stories like this are not about me. But the fact that I can show up and be that vessel, so to speak, even if it's just one person, knowing that it's going to take a collaborative effort from the crew, from the directors, and the amazing ensemble of the cast.

Did this role challenge or deepen your own understanding of faith, hope, or trust?

It definitely was a refreshing reminder because, in a sense, for me personally as an artist, certain projects find me, specifically like “The Forge”. There's certain things where I cannot make up or even ask to be a part of versus something presented to me. I'm like, "Okay, you know what? This is something I'm supposed to do." But personally, in a few interviews I had today, I'm like, "God has truly been with me in my life, beyond career, beyond things that have happened for me." But just to be able to look back over my childhood and my life in general and see His presence. And like I said before, I even knew what the Holy Spirit was to be able to look back and say, “Yes, that was God, that was Him, and He's still here with me.

It just was a refreshing reminder that everything He's been to me in this little part of this film, I hope that is captured for people to see, okay, if He was with them in this movie, He can be with me too. And hopefully, it would be great for people to pick up their Bibles too, who may not have read the Bible before. This movie was truly a fresh reminder that He's been with me too.

For you and Ashley Fisher who plays Mary in the movie, how did you approach portraying the tension between a couple's private beliefs and the public's reaction to their circumstances?

The script was written in such a way where we showed up on day one and it was easy for us because there were no egos on set. We started every single day on set with prayer. So, just to be able to step into it and have fun with it (was important). She's a great person overall and an amazing artist. I think it was easy to show up, prepared, but also the discovery process for us was fun because we have to portray this in order to showcase tension. We need to show the forces trying to pit us against each other. We have to understand what love they have for each other. What was the most beloved for Joseph to say, "Hey, this is the woman that I love, all these plans for her, for us to be married and to have a future. Then, to get this life-changing news that flips everything upside down." Like, what would that be like in today's time?

That itself creates the tension. So, just understanding that dynamic and the foundational principle of what they genuinely cared about for one another. I think they helped navigate the loss.

After people have had a chance to see God with Us, what would you like to see audiences take away from the viewing experience? What is your greatest hope for the film?

My greatest hope is that people’s faith is increased because we live in such a time where the media and so many things are going on where it can make people feel sidetracked. It can be a challenge for people to stay focused to know that He is truly with us, through the hard times, through the great times, but just lending our awareness to His presence. He's more than able, willing, and available to show himself true because He is present. I just want people's faith to be increased and to know that no matter how far they may think they are all from Him, He doesn't want anybody to perish. God loves everyone. You. Me. Anyone. Just to know that He loves us and He's so compassionate. I want people to be impacted and to know that there's nothing that could separate them from the love of God.

'God with Us' opens in theaters this Friday, November 13th.

WATCH A TRAILER FOR GOD WITH US: