Hollywood star Forest Whitaker is bringing William Paul Young’s best-selling 2007 novel The Shack to the big screen, and he’s looking to Idris Elba, star of Pacific Rim, Thor and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, to star in his adaptation.
The book, which has sold more than 18 million copies, was controversial among many evangelicals for its depiction of the Trinity—portrayed as a Middle Eastern man (Jesus), an African-American woman (God the Father) and an Asian woman (the Holy Spirit)—who manifests in human form to comfort a grieving father.
Whitaker, who will reportedly also write and star in the $30 million film for Lionsgate, has tapped Oprah for a role. In all likelihood, she’d be playing The Shack’s version of God the Father, which certainly won’t cause any controversy.
