“God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust,” the latest installment in the popular Christian franchise “God’s Not Dead” opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 12. In it, Dean Cain reprises Marc Shelley, the same shady land developer he played in the 2014 original.
Mr. Cain was gracious enough to grant a one-on-one interview prior to the film’s release.
Michael Clark: Why do you think this franchise has resonated with so many viewers?
Dean Cain: I think it’s because, even though it’s Christian-based, it’s not preachy. [The films] tell stories about God with people trying to figure out their spirituality. It speaks about God in a way that is different from other, similar, past Christian films. This new one, like the others, is a standalone production, and it has a little “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” in it. It’s about an individual trying to do something for their community.
Clark: Why is there such a chasm between most critics and audiences regarding faith-based movies?
Cain: When you make a movie, you have a point of view; you can accentuate that point of view by “banging it home” as some other major studios have done, or you can be subtle. The “God’s Not Dead” movies entertain and inspire, and there are some in the press that don’t like that—they don’t like movies that focus on faith.
Though it wasn’t faith-based, “Top Gun: Maverick” connected with people because it had a clear moral message and embraced patriotism, something else the left doesn’t appreciate.
Dean Cain starred as Superman, in "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” Warner Bros. Television
Clark: Your returning character here isn’t quite a villain, but is certainly unethical. Is it true actors like playing bad guys?
Cain: Very true. When you play a bad guy, you have one job: either mess something up or hurt somebody. You can do anything as an actor in order to achieve that goal. It’s pretty freeing, and much more different than playing a hero where you have to be moral and balanced. In the first installment, my character, when his girlfriend tells him she has cancer, he responds with “that’s not part of [the] plan—You’re out.” In this new film, he plays the same power broker who, unfortunately, can change the outcome of an election.
Clark: What is your stance on the separation of church and state?
Cain: It’s not something that’s specifically written into the Constitution, and I think the First Amendment covers it pretty well. Everyone has the right to practice whatever religion in a way they see fit, as long as it doesn’t dictate that other people have to do X, Y, or Z. All of our morals and values are reflected in our faith, and if you go back to the Founding Fathers, they talk about it quite a bit.
There’s a reason “In God We Trust” is printed on our currency. There’s a reason that the Declaration of Independence says we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. I think it’s gotten extreme when a high school football coach gets busted for leading a prayer before or after a game; that’s going too far. Witnesses in court cases have to say “so help me God” before testifying. I don’t think the government has any right to force people to think a certain way or prohibit their particular choice of faith.
Clark: You’ve been associated with four successful but very different TV series (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Hit the Floor,” and “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!”). That’s somewhat rare in the entertainment industry. What do you believe has contributed to the longevity of your career?
Cain: I’m an actor, but I’m an athlete first. I tend to approach acting as a team sport; it’s not about just one person. I know I’ll never do another TV series again; my life is too much fun now. When I was on “Lois & Clark,” we were locked down 18 hours a day every day. There was no life outside of it. There’s no balance. It’s awful. I felt fortunate that at the age of 26 that I was able to do that, but was glad when it was over. It was exhausting.
Clark: Were you ever concerned that playing Superman could have led to stereotyping?
Cain: [Laughs—long pause] No, and here’s why. I just needed to pay my rent. I was just happy I had a real job. I wasn’t an experienced enough actor at that point to become stereotyped. My biggest concern at the time was hoping people liked me playing Superman.
Clark: You were a guest commentator and host on Fox News. Are you still doing that?
Cain: I am, but I just don’t like going to New York. When the pandemic hit, it stopped me from going back and forth so much, which actually made me happy. There’s a saying: “You might not be interested in politics, but I promise you, politics is interested in you.” The older I get, the more I pay attention to government policies. That’s why I recently moved from California to Nevada. The taxes are lower, and the dollar goes a lot further.
Dean Cain (2nd R) with Mike Pompeo (C) and the hosts of the Today show. Public Domain
Clark: Was it fun playing Peter Strzok on stage [in the play “FBI Lovebirds: UnderCovers”]?
Cain: That was so much fun, in part because it was so ridiculous. When you look at the texts between him and Lisa Page, you realize the level of condescension towards people in Northern Virginia versus those in Southern Virginia. They talked about how wonderful and ethical they were while having an affair. All of the dialogue in the play was lifted verbatim from their texts.
Clark:: What is your next project?
Cain: Projects. I’ve wrapped four upcoming movies, including “Little Angels,” which I’m producing, directing, and starring in.
Poster for "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust." Pinnacle Peak Pictures
Clark: Will there be any more “God’s Not Dead” movies?
Cain: I think so. One of the great aspects of these movies is that they’re standalone productions. You don’t have to keep building on the same story line every time. God knows there’s enough going on around us to warrant making more of them.
For “God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust” ticket information, visit GodsNotDead.com
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected]
