Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company Gear Up to Bring Christian Country Star Anne Wilson’s Inspiring Journey to the Big Screen in My Jesus

Production is officially slated to begin next month on My Jesus, an upcoming music-driven, coming-of-age feature film inspired by the life, struggles, and meteoric rise of Christian country music sensation Anne Wilson. The project marks a major milestone for several talents involved, serving as the feature-film acting debut for singer-songwriter Aliza Kate Barlow, who has been cast to portray Wilson, and the feature directorial debut for screenwriter Kay Oyegun. Developed by Lionsgate in partnership with Kingdom Story Company—the powerhouse production banner behind faith-based box office hits such as I Can Only Imagine and Jesus Revolution—the movie aims to capture a deeply personal story of faith, family, and resilience.

A Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team

The biographical drama boasts a robust ensemble cast of seasoned television and film actors to portray Wilson’s close-knit family members. Rising star Gavin Casalegno, widely recognized for his prominent role in Prime Video’s hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, has been cast as Anne’s brother, Jacob. Acclaimed actress Monica Potter, whose extensive credits include classic films like Con Air and Patch Adams as well as the NBC drama series Parenthood, will take on the role of the siblings’ mother, Lynn.

Portraying the family patriarch, Kent, is Charles Esten, a familiar face to both country music and drama fans from his acclaimed runs on ABC’s Nashville and Netflix’s Outer Banks. Rounding out the central family unit is legendary Emmy Award-winning actor Beau Bridges, recently seen in the CBS legal drama Matlock alongside Kathy Bates, who will play the role of the grandfather, Bob.

Behind the camera, the creative helm belongs to Kay Oyegun. Known for her standout writing and directing work on NBC’s beloved family drama This Is Us and as the writer and executive producer of Apple TV+’s miniseries Imperfect Women, Oyegun penned the screenplay. Her script adapts Wilson’s bestselling memoir, My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope. Producing the film for Kingdom Story Company are Joshua Walsh, Brandon Gregory, Andrew Erwin, and Daryl LeFever, with Jim Miller, Matthew West, and Robert Deaton serving as executive producers. Meredith Wieck and Maria Ascanio are actively overseeing the project on behalf of Lionsgate.

Plot and Narrative Arc

My Jesus is framed as a contemporary coming-of-age story that mirrors the modern phenomenon of digital-age discovery. The narrative follows Anne, a regular teenager whose life is upended by a profound, life-altering moment of personal grief and transition. Driven by this turning point, she posts a video of herself singing online. The raw performance triggers a massive viral response, thrusting her into the public eye and immediately capturing the attention of industry executives across both the Christian and country music sectors.

However, the rapid ascension to public recognition is not without its personal costs. As Anne begins to find her unique voice, she must learn to navigate the complicated ripple effects that her burgeoning career introduces to her family relationships, friendships, and community. Burdened by the weight of high expectations, she is forced to reevaluate her identity, her perception of the world, her evolving relationship with God, and her ultimate life purpose.

Studio executives have expressed profound enthusiasm for the themes at the core of the film. Erin Westerman, President of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, highlighted the universal appeal of the narrative while emphasizing its unique spiritual foundation.

"Anne’s story is the ultimate wish fulfillment story—a regular girl finds a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share her gift with the world—but what sets her story apart is that her true gift is a testament to the power of faith, family, friendship, love, and devotion," Westerman stated. "Her journey isn’t just evocative and emotional—it shows how trusting that faith changed her life in every way. Kay has a wonderful take on this touching story, and we’re passionate about bringing it to life."

Brandon Gregory, President and COO of Kingdom Story Company, echoed these sentiments, pointing to the expanding demographic of moviegoers seeking spiritually resonant content.

"We couldn’t be more honored to bring Anne’s story to the big screen with Kay and this talented cast," Gregory said. "My Jesus is a story for a generation that loves the communal experience of going to the movies and is increasingly bold and unapologetic about their faith. Working alongside our incredible partners at Lionsgate to deliver an experience for that audience that feels fresh, entertaining, and deeply authentic is beyond exciting for all of us at Kingdom Story Company."

The Phenomenon Behind the Music

The cinematic adaptation draws its title and thematic inspiration from Anne Wilson’s breakout anthem, My Jesus, which became a historic commercial and critical success within the contemporary Christian music landscape. Upon its release, the song climbed to the top of Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and dominated the No. 1 position on the Christian Airplay chart for seven consecutive weeks.

The achievement placed Wilson in the history books, making her the first female solo artist to lead the Christian Airplay chart with a debut single since the chart’s inception in 2003. The momentum continued with the release of her full-length debut studio album, also titled My Jesus, which earned a prestigious Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. The song and album resonated deeply with listeners due to their honest confrontation of personal tragedy, specifically the unexpected loss of Wilson’s brother, Jacob—the very brother portrayed by Gavin Casalegno in the upcoming film.

Background and Context of the Production Partnership

The collaboration between Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company represents a continuation of a highly lucrative and culturally influential partnership. Kingdom Story Company, founded by Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin, and Kevin Downes, has carved out a specialized niche in Hollywood by producing values-driven, faith-based cinema with high production values that appeal to mainstream audiences. Past collaborations between the studio and Lionsgate include box office successes such as I Can Only Imagine (2018), which grossed over $86 million domestically against a modest budget, and Jesus Revolution (2023), which outperformed box office projections to become a cultural touchstone for faith communities nationwide.

The addition of My Jesus to their collaborative slate signals a strategic effort to adapt contemporary Christian musical biographies into cinematic narratives, capitalizing on the established fanbases of artists who crossover between mainstream country and faith-based markets.

Chronology of Development and Casting

The journey from memoir and hit single to feature film has accelerated significantly over the past year. Following the commercial triumph of Wilson’s musical releases and the publication of her literary work, rights discussions materialized, leading to the attachment of Kay Oyegun to script and direct.

Casting decisions coalesced throughout late summer, culminating in the finalization of the principal cast. Aliza Kate Barlow secured the lead role following an extensive casting search. Barlow brings authentic musical credibility to the production; raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she has established a career as an independent singer-songwriter, touring nationally and accumulating over 2 million streams across major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Production preparations are now in their final stages, with cameras scheduled to roll next month at undisclosed locations. Given the standard production and post-production timelines for music-driven biographical dramas, industry analysts anticipate a theatrical release window in late 2026 or early 2027, distributed by Lionsgate.

Broader Industry Implications and Market Impact

The greenlighting and upcoming production of My Jesus underscore a broader, ongoing shift in the motion picture industry regarding faith-based content. Historically marginalized as niche direct-to-video products, faith-based and inspirational films have proven over the last decade that they can command significant theatrical box office returns and foster intense audience loyalty.

By integrating established television and film talent—such as Monica Potter, Charles Esten, and Beau Bridges—alongside rising Gen-Z actors like Gavin Casalegno, the production team is deliberately bridging the gap between traditional demographic silos. This casting strategy is designed to attract not only core fans of Anne Wilson’s music and faith-based cinema devotees, but also a broader demographic familiar with contemporary television hits like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Outer Banks.

Furthermore, the film highlights the growing commercial viability of the "Christian Country" genre—a hybrid musical space where artists like Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, and Carrie Underwood frequently explore themes of regional identity, personal faith, and emotional resilience. As My Jesus moves into principal photography next month, industry observers will be closely watching to see how Oyegun translates a deeply personal, faith-centric memoir into a cinematic language capable of resonating with both secular and religious audiences alike.