*Chiwetel Ejiofor is in negotiations to join the Netflix film “Come Sunday,” a true story based on a 2005 episode of “This American Life.”
“Come Sunday” tells the story of Carlton Pearson (Ejiofor), the renowned evangelical minister in Tulsa, Okla., who stirred up controversy with his revelation that hell does not exist. He loses everything and must rebuild his church and his family and find his own personal faith.
Ejiofor would star opposite Robert Redford as Oral Roberts.
Marcus Hinchey (“All Good Things”) wrote the screenplay, and Joshua Marston (“Maria Full of Grace”) is directing.
The project, formerly titled “Heretics,” was originally set up at Endgame Entertainment in 2010 as a directing vehicle for Marc Forster, who will be involved as an executive producer.
Jeffrey Wright had previously been in talks to take on the starring role of Pearson, and Jonathan Demme also flirted with the long-gestating project.
Endgame’s James D. Stern is producing “Come Sunday” alongside “This American Life’s” Ira Glass and Alissa Shipp. Color Force’s Brad Simpson, who was involved in the project when Forster was developing it, is executive producing.
Ejiofor, who co-starred in last year’s “The Martian,” will next appear as Baron Karl Mordo in “Doctor Strange.”
Below, a CNN interview with the real Carlton Pearson from 2010:
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
