2018 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Joshua Marston’s Come Sunday

A place that can be avoided by obedience to God and his commandments, the Mormons don’t see what all the fuss is about like the Christians do. So I can’t think of a better lieu than a key world film festival in the state of Utah, to challenge those who believe in fiery afterlife. Featuring a cast comprised of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Condola Rashad, Jason Segel, Danny Glover and American indie “it” actor of the moment in Lakeith Stanfield, formerly going by the more horror movie titled “Heretic,” this This American Life project (give it a listen here) strand was first announced way back in 2010 (and at a time had Robert Redford on board and Jonathan Demme set to direct). True traction came when Joshua Marston climbed on board to director, set Ejiofor in the top billing seat. The Netflix distributed Come Sunday began lensing this past January, so Marston, who got his career start back at Sundance with Maria Full of Grace (2004) and most recently shored up with Complete Unknown (2016) will likely find programmers wearing their Sunday best to get this into the fest. All Good Things scribe Marcus Hinchey returns with his second feature film screenplay which takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and sees a preacher become a pariah of sorts when he loses his congregation of thousands following the revelation that he no longer believes in hell. Curators who were high on Jake Mahaffy’s Free in Deed might want to program this item as well. Check out the clip below.

Gist: Written by Marcus Hinchey, Evangelist Carlton Pearson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is ostracized by his church for preaching that there is no Hell.

Production Co./Producers: This American Life’s Ira Glass, Alissa Shipp (Don’t Think Twice), Endgame Entertainment’s James D. Stern, Julie Goldstein (Freeheld).

Prediction: Unless this gets snatched away for a comp berth at the Berlin Film Fest, this should find a spot in the Premieres category.

U.S. Distributor: Netflix (domestic). TBD (international)