New Animated Christmas Movie 'The Star' Tells The Story of Jesus' Birth in a Reverent, Humorous Way (Exclusive GH Interview)

Leah Marieann Klett : Nov 14, 2017
GospelHerald.com

"To tell a classic story from an unconventional point of view, we think is a really great way to get families and people to really see the story in a new way and re-introduce it to a new generation." -producer DeVon Franklin

[GospelHerald.com] "The Star," hitting theaters on November 17, is a family-friendly Christmas film that tackles the story of the Nativity in a reverent, yet humorous way, producer DeVon Franklin and Academy Award-nominated writer/director Timothy Reckart have revealed. (Screengrab via The Star movie/via Gospel Herald)

Featuring a star-studded cast including Steven Yeun ("The Walking Dead"), Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, singer Kelly Clarkson, and Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin"), "The Star" tells the story of Jesus' birth as documented in the New Testament—from the point of the animals.

"It's one of those films where you've never seen this perspective before. It's really the first of its kind," Franklin ("Miracles from Heaven") told the Gospel Herald, pointing out that the film is the first faith-based animation film to hit theaters on a mass scale since 1998 with "Prince of Egypt."

"To tell a classic story from an unconventional point of view, we think is a really great way to get families and people to really see the story in a new way and re-introduce it to a new generation," he added.

While there's no shortage of classic Christmas films—from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to "It's a Wonderful Life"—none of them are actually about the birth of Christ, Reckart said.

"None of those family-friendly, animated projects really cover that at a studio-level of quality," he said. "So, that's honestly what got me really excited about participating in this project, was to make a film that it's almost impossible to believe doesn't exist yet." (Screengrab via The Star movie/via Gospel Herald)

According to the film synopsis, "The Star" follows "a small but brave donkey named Bo [who] yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow 'The Star' and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told...

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