Topher Grace will be starring in an upcoming film adaptation of Joyce Smith's best-selling book "The Impossible: The Miraculous Story of a Mother's Faith and Her Child's Resurrection."
After playing a key white supremacist nemesis in Spike Lee's "Black Klansman," Grace will be portraying a pastor in "The Impossible," which follows the true story of Smith's 14-year-old son who was declared dead after falling through the ice in a frozen lake in Missouri. Through faith and prayer, the mother sat by her son's bedside until his heart started to beat again.
Grace, who is mostly known for his role in the long-running comedy series "That '70s Show," has been cast as Pastor Jason Noble, the small town's new hip man of God who helps the mother through her ordeal.
The film, which is already in production in Canada, will be directed by veteran television director Roxann Dawson, who is known for directing episodes of "House of Cards," "Scandal," "The Americans," and "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Smith's story garnered national headlines in 2015 and the book proposal began a bidding war that was won by Hachette books. "Miracles From Heaven" producer DeVon Franklin, who was moved by the story, helped the family find a literary agent and develop the book proposal, which became the basis for the film.
Chrissy Metz, star of hit show "This Is Us," will be portraying Joyce. The actress said that she is excited to take on a role that is not focused on her size.
"This is not a movie about weight; this is not about being a plus-size woman," she said. "It's about this beautiful, miraculous story, and that's exciting. It's sort of uncharted territory for me, so I'm really grateful but also nervous. A lot nervous! I'm really thrilled and honored to have this opportunity," she added.
Deadline reported that Marcel Ruiz, who had recently wrapped Season 2 of Netflix's "One Day at a Time," has been cast to play the lead role in the film.
Mike Colter, who currently plays the titular character in Marvel's "Luke Cage," also joins the cast as Tommy Shine, a firefighter who saves Joyce's son from the water after hearing a voice telling him where to look. Before the incident, Shine did not believe in God but he soon found a reason to believe after watching John fight.
