John Amos to star in 'Hillbilly Bible,' faith-based film set to shoot in the Mid-South

Bob Mehr, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Updated ·2 min read
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Veteran actor John Amos — of “Good Times” and “Coming to America” fame — is set to appear in “Hillbilly Bible,” a faith-based film that will shoot in the Mid-South. Amos’ son, K.C. Amos, will direct the feature, which is being produced by Memphian Marie Pizano.

Pizano, who owns the MVP3 Entertainment Group, touted the film among a slate of other projects being developed by the company during an event held at The Peabody hotel on Friday, also attended by John and K.C. Amos.

Pizano — whose past production credits include the 2011 documentary “Momo: The Sam Giancana Story” and the 2017 drama “Shattered” starring Ray Wise — is developing “Hillbilly Bible” based on a a 2007 book by Memphis author Stevie Rey. The book — an interpretation of the Gospel of John, written in a Southern slang — has been described as “The Passion of the Christ meets The Dukes of Hazzard."

Actor John Amos, left, attends a press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, at The Peabody hotel where it was announced he'll star in “Hillbilly Bible," a faith-based movie to film in Memphis and Clarksdale, Miss. He sits next to his son, K.C. Amos.
Actor John Amos, left, attends a press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, at The Peabody hotel where it was announced he'll star in “Hillbilly Bible," a faith-based movie to film in Memphis and Clarksdale, Miss. He sits next to his son, K.C. Amos.

According to Pizano, MVP3 Entertainment is also working on a second faith-oriented feature, “Purple Church,” a drama about a man who loses his wife and begins to question his faith in God.

Both “Hillbilly Bible” and “Purple Church” will shoot in and around Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi.

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Pizano announced her company is also at work on a couple nonfiction films, including a documentary about Memphis civil rights leader and attorney Walter Bailey.

Another documentary from MVP3, “A Society in Crisis: A Family in Divide” will focus on divorce and divorce law, and the experiences of children caught in the middle of family breakups.

Actor John Amos attends a press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, at The Peabody hotel where it was announced he'll star in “Hillbilly Bible," a faith-based movie to film in Memphis and Clarksdale, Miss.
Actor John Amos attends a press conference on Friday, May 12, 2023, at The Peabody hotel where it was announced he'll star in “Hillbilly Bible," a faith-based movie to film in Memphis and Clarksdale, Miss.

“We’re working on one after another,” Pizano said of her various projects in an interview prior to Friday's event. “It’s like watering a harvest. You plant the seed with one and you get that to grow, and then go to the next one.”

Pizano also said MVP3 is working on launching its own streaming service, which will be based out of Memphis.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: John Amos to star in faith-based film 'Hillbilly Bible': What we know