Before 'The Chosen' There Was 'What If ...', a Movie That Launched Dallas Jenkins' Career
Debby Ryan, Dallas Jenkins, Kristy Swanson, Kevin Sorbo on the set of 'What If ...' Photo image courtesy Pinnacle Peak
Long before The Chosen captured worldwide audiences with an immersive series about the life of Jesus Christ, Dallas Jenkins was a young, aspiring filmmaker trying to establish himself in Hollywood. In 2010, with just one full-length feature film to his credit, Jenkins released a movie that won the hearts of all who saw it. However, there was but one problem. Not many people actually went to the theater.
Starring Kevin Sorbo (God’s Not Dead, Hercules), Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), John Ratzenberger (Cheers, Toy Story), and Debby Ryan (Jessie), What If … tells the story of a successful businessman who abandons his faith. In sort of a It’s a Wonderful Life twist, this well-intentioned gentleman wakes up living the small-town life he was destined for. Along the way, he discovers this second chance has afforded him the opportunity to live the purposeful life he was destined for without the glitz and glamour he had been chasing.
Despite its small box office earnings, through the years What If has developed an enthusiastic following on cable television and streaming video. Now, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its original release, ‘What If’ makes a return to theaters nationwide on August 5th and August 7th as a Fathom Entertainment movie event.
I recently sat down with Sorbo and producer Michael Scott to discuss how this movie essentially launched the directing career of Jenkins, the importance of What If’s message for such a time as this, and how it serves as a powerful reminder of how God can redirect our path for something greater.
This movie served as a beginning of sorts for you and Dallas Jenkins as it established you both in the faith movie industry. Was What If … an important project for you?
Kevin Sorbo: I put ‘What If’ in my top three of the more than 90 movies I have made. Dallas and I used to live near each other in Los Angeles before we both moved. He (Dallas) gave me the script just to get an idea. And I read the script and asked, ‘Hey, who's playing Pastor Ben?’ And he goes, “Well, I got this guy.” And I go, ‘No, no, I'm playing it.’ He goes, “Well, I can't afford you. This is really low budget.” And I said, ‘Dallas, I don't care. I am Pastor Ben.’ I'm reading this on an airplane and I'm laughing, not out loud, but I'm laughing, and I got kind of teary a couple of times. The guy next to me asks, ‘Are you okay?’ And I said, ‘No, it's just a script. It's really good.’ And I said, ‘I'm playing Pastor Ben. Whatever it is you want to pay me, whatever it is, I don’t care. Just pay me ultra low SAG (Screen Actors Guild) wages. I love the script. I love the idea of the script. I love the humor of it.’ It's the same writers that did God's Not Dead (Cary Solomon, Chuck Konzelman), which was hugely successful.
What If ... made me want to keep doing movies like that. This is what God has called me to do. This is my way to harvest. With movies like this, I realize that I'm on the right path of what God intended for me.
Of course today, we all know Dallas Jenkins as the creator of the very popular streaming series, The Chosen. But what people may not know is that he had been making movies for a decade before that. From What If … until now, what has impressed you the most about Dallas Jenkins' rise into prominence as a director?
Michael Scott: Dallas is an extremely talented guy when it comes to directing, able to work with the talent, craft the story, all of those different elements. And so that really comes forth as you watch the movie, ‘What If’. It's just a heartwarming story. I think Dallas is, as he's been able to build these experiences, he'll tell you himself, he’s had some really good successes and some really hard failures in movies that he really liked. But he was able to take all of that creative ability, that business ability that he had, and to really sit down and say, how am I going to start this? With The Chosen, what does this look like? It was kind of a fresh slate when he launched The Chosen and he worked so hard at it, getting the first season going and off the ground through crowdfunding.
And then his ability to market that and build that audience season over season. It has just proven to be so unique, and I think the audience and the characters he built is just a testament going back to even what he did with What If … . I think the very thing he did with The Chosen, he did with ‘What If … . He's a great storyteller, and I think it's in his genes. His dad wrote the Left Behind series. So, he comes from great storytellers and obviously he got that as well. Dallas is one of those rare people who has that.
When this movie was originally released, it was well liked but didn’t earn a ton of money. Why the decision to bring this movie back 15 years later, beyond the anniversary connection?
Michael Scott: It was one of those movies when we launched it we were kind of starting our own company and getting this out. So, it was a small release and we didn't know how it was going to take. It only went out to a little less than 200 screens. And people loved it but it's been kind of a classic on home entertainment throughout the years. As Kevin says, “Out of all the movies I've ever done, this is the one that people come back and say, I love it. This is my favorite movie.” And I think this just has that staying power that's been there. And we thought, why not bring it back? What if so many people weren't able to see it in the theater or may not have seen it all?
It's a classic family movie in the vein of The Family Man, if you remember that. I think it's just kind of that fish out of water story. Someone that gets to take back time to say, ‘What would my life have been like? What if this happened?’ And to see that played out and how the decisions you would have made would have profoundly impacted your life either way. I think it's a fun story. It's all about the family. I think you walk away inspired and all those things. And so, with today's world being so divisive, why not see something that inspires you and really shows you a new way, or a new path? I think people will enjoy it, whether you're young or old.
Kevin Sorbo: I talk about What If … all the time. I do a lot of speaking events. I've got four books out since 2012, and I do about 15 speaking events a year. And I bring up that movie every time I speak, no matter what I'm talking about. Whether it's a pro-life event, a Christian education conference, whatever it may be, I know I reach at least 100,000 people a year at my speaking events. And I know they tell people, So, if 100,000 people reached out to 10 people each, that's a million people that now know about the movie. And it’s a movie worth recommending to others.
What If … remains a powerful reminder of how God can redirect our path for something greater. Why is the message of this movie still as vital as it was when originally released?
Kevin Sorbo: I think it's more vital. We live in a world that's so angry, so divisive, and so filled with hatred. And this is the movie that shows you what a lot of that anger and hatred comes from. It’s people not liking who they are. They look in the mirror and hate what they see. They don't like their jobs. They don't like their relationships. And all they do is want to hate on people like you and me that get attacked on this and get attacked on that. I realize a lot of that is the world out there. But there are people that make that stuff go out there. Here's a movie that shows you, no matter how horrible your life is, there is a chance for hope and redemption. I think that's what people in the world want more than anything.
They're looking for hope. They're looking for answers to why am I even here? What's the meaning of this? Why should I even care about this, that, or whatever? It doesn't matter how bad your life is, this movie shows you that redemption is open to everyone. This is a movie to show that you can change your life. It's just up to you to find the strength to do it. And I think Jesus has that strength.
Michael Scott: This movie gives you a different perspective. A guy that's been famous and rich, and he's empty. And he gets to see what life would be like if he would have made better decisions that were more godly aligned. When he decides to take a different path and goes to that side, he gets to see what happens. This is the message, I think this message is as pertinent as it was 15 years ago. It's pertinent today, and it'll probably be as pertinent in 15 years from now. That's why I think this is a classic story.
There are many valuable life lessons to be learned from this movie. What is something you took away from it that still resonates in your life today?
Kevin Sorbo: I love the fact that the one scene that probably hit me the most is at the bed of the dying man near the end of the movie. And to read things out of the Bible and let it really sink in, and realize as he's telling this to this man who's never believed in his life and is on his deathbed … it's him being spoken to by Jesus at the same time. And it really hits him right then and there that the life he has lived of nothing but a materialistic sort of life was not the real road to go on. You can have a materialistic world, you can have success in your life, but without God, without Jesus, it doesn’t mean anything ultimately. That's why you find so many people that are wealthy. I think that they are just unhappy.
Changing gears, this movie will be released in theaters as a two-day Fathom Event. What can audiences expect to see in addition to the movie? Will there be any additional content available?
Michael Scott: Yes. We gathered up the cast 15 years later and had a sit down video session. We asked, looking back on this film 15 years ago, what did you think about the experience? Dallas talked about his time there on set to his time now on The Chosen You get to see the spanning of all of these characters and where they're at today. I think it's a great interview that people will really enjoy. You're going to feel the heart of the movie. You're going to feel the relationship between the characters. You're going to understand their sense of God and family through this. So I think that the interview is really profound and people will enjoy it. And if they want to get a little glimpse into some of Dallas's early work, I think it's as good back then as it is today.
A real basic question to wrap things up today. What's your greatest hope for the film?
Kevin Sorbo: That people will wake up. The fact that there is hope. You just said that word. There is redemption. There is a chance to turn your life around. It's really up to you to want to make it happen. I hope a lot of faith people out there will bring their agnostic and atheist friends. It's a much easier thing to do then ask them to go to your church. I remember when ‘What If’ first came out and I showed it to a couple friends who were agnostic and atheists. They loved the movie. They said to me, “I don't think the way you do, but I thought that was just a really fun movie”. And to me, I hope people do it. Tell your pastors to encourage their churches to go and support these movies. Otherwise they will disappear in Hollywood. We need to keep winning this culture war.
For more information on What If … and where to see it, please visit FathomEntertainment.com.
WATCH A TRAILER FOR WHAT IF ...:
