For King & Country's Joel Smallbone, Wife Moriah to Star in Film 'A Music City Story'

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A pair of well-known Christian music artists are set to star in a new movie set in the world of Music City – and it's backed by some of the biggest names in faith-based filmmaking.

Joel Smallbone of For King & Country and his wife, solo artist Moriah Smallbone, will star in "A Music City Story," a new film now in production in Middle Tennessee. The movie follows a struggling singer-songwriter (Moriah Smallbone) who leaves her controlling manager behind and sets out to rebuild both her career and her life.

Along the way, she forms a bond with Ran (Joel Smallbone), a contractor whose encouragement “helps her rediscover her faith, her voice and the courage to pursue the future she's always believed possible,” according to the film's plot description.

Both Smallbones bring prior screen experience to the project – Moriah with roles in "The Chosen" and "Journey to Bethlehem," and Joel with "Young Washington," "Unsung Hero" and "Priceless."

Adam Anders ("Journey to Bethlehem") is directing it.

It’s a Sony Pictures/AFFIRM Films production.

“Nashville isn't just the setting of this film, it's the heartbeat of it,” Anders said. “This is a story about second chances, faith and the songs we're still meant to write, and there's no better place to tell it than Music City. Getting to capture Joel and Moriah Smallbone's real-life chemistry on screen, and to build the music with them from the ground up, has been one of the great joys of my career.”

Kevin Downes ("I Can Only Imagine," "Jesus Revolution"), a veteran of the faith film industry, is producing it alongside Anders, Moriah Smallbone, Joel Smallbone, Nick Moceri and Nikki Anders. Executive producers are Bill Herren and Bernie Stern.

The Smallbones released a joint statement saying they “fell in love writing a song together” and “now that creative partnership has become a story inspired by our heritage, our marriage, and the dreams we've learned to chase side by side.”

“This film is rooted in so many things we love -- taking brave risks, making music, and the community we've found here in Nashville,” they said. “Through these characters, we get to explore what it means to keep choosing each other day after day – and bringing that story to the big screen feels deeply personal.”

A release date for the film has not been set.

 Photo Credit: ©Affirm

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.