{"id":1145,"date":"2017-06-18T20:15:36","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T00:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/?p=1145"},"modified":"2017-06-22T16:48:24","modified_gmt":"2017-06-22T20:48:24","slug":"director-stuart-hazeldine-success-shack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/2017\/06\/director-stuart-hazeldine-success-shack.html","title":{"rendered":"Director Stuart Hazeldine on the Success of ‘The Shack’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The big screen adaptation of William P. Young\u2019s The Shack<\/em>, directed by Stuart Hazeldine and starring Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer and Tim McGraw, released in theaters on March 30, earning more than $57 million and securing a spot in the top 10 Christian films of all time.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Shack stars Sam Worthington, Octavia Spencer and Tim McGraw and releases to theaters March 3. Image courtesy of Lionsgate Entertainment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hazeldine, a Christian working in the motion picture industry, was offered an early chance to direct the film with a smaller studio many years earlier. He immediately dove into the book, fascinated by the idea of \u201cGod as the ultimate therapist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved the idea that a man gets to meet God, the Son and the Holy Spirit in a place halfway between earth and heaven,\u201d he said. \u201cGod is a spirit so it\u2019s hard to have that encounter in a visual medium like film.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although he was intrigued by the chance to helm a film with religious content, he turned it down, concerned that he lacked \u201cthe vision\u201d to turn the book into a script. After a new producer secured the rights and developing his take, Hazeldine was asked to take another look.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could suddenly see how it could be a movie,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew how to tackle the remaining problems, so to speak. I told them my vision for the movie and they decided to take a chance with a young director.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spencer was the first cast member to sign on, having already been familiar with the book. Worthington had a \u201cgood understanding\u201d of Mack, the grieving father. Aviv Alush, and Sumire were \u201cnot only the first choice, they were the only choice\u201d for Jesus and Sarayu.<\/p>\n

See more of Reel Faith\u2019s coverage of \u2018The Shack,\u2019 including an interview with star Sam Worthington,\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou had the sense that everyone was perfect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n