Sept. 12 sees the theatrical release of “God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust,” the fifth installment in the popular “God’s Not Dead” franchise that started in 2014.
In this film, Isaiah Washington co-stars as Congressman Daryl Smith, the same character introduced in the previous installment, “We the People.” Smith is the friend and confident of lead character, Reverend Dave Hill (David A.R. White).
“In God We Trust” is the first feature for Washington since the 2022 “Corsicana,” a masterpiece Western he both starred in and directed.
Sam Tanner (Jason Johnson, L) and Bass Reeves (Isaiah Washington), in “Corsicana.” Rose Dove Entertainment
I recently had the opportunity to interview Washington regarding this film, discuss his faith, and talk about his next directing gig.
Michael Clark: Could you give our readers a brief overview of “In God We Trust"?
Isaiah Washington: It’s a wonderful treatise on what would happen if 50 plus million Christians were to get involved with politics and not be heavy-handed about it. [In the movie’s epilogue, it stated that 40 million registered Christian U.S. voters don’t vote and 15 million more aren’t even registered].
Mr. Clark: There was a line of your dialogue I found particularly telling: “The truth gets cancelled or loses.”
Mr. Washington: That’s my favorite line. The word “truth” has become an anathema—a synonym for doomsday. If someone, not just me, speaks the truth on anything that the left finds objectionable, they are targeted on a personal level. What is said becomes less important than who is saying it.
Mr. Clark: Besides the script and your character, what drew you to this project?
Mr. Washington: They paid me a lot of money [laughs]. It was one of the few times in my career where I was paid what I was worth. It also helped that I was able to finish all my scenes over the space of two days. It was hard work, but I really enjoyed playing that character. This is a movie about politics that is devoid of any “trigger” words such as “good and evil” or “liberal and conservative.”
Poster for "God's Not Dead: In God We Trust." Pureflix
Mr. Clark: Do you know if there will be any more installments for this franchise?
Mr. Washington: I hope so. I spoke to David [White] about doing three or four more, where his character eventually gets elected president with my character as his VP.
Mr. Clark: After playing a member of Congress in this film, would you ever consider running for public office?
Mr. Washington: I think I’m best suited to be a voice or a vessel rather than a politician. I can choose the parts that accommodate my belief system that will reach millions of people. In Congress, I’d be one of 438 people who barely agree on anything. By playing a senator in a movie, it is my hope that it will inspire other people to do so, much like Jimmy Stewart did in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
Mr. Clark: What is your take on the separation of church and state?
Mr. Washington: It was a great idea as a “business plan” centuries ago when morality was at an all-time low. The Founding Fathers and others left Britain because the church and state were acting in congress with each other.
Mr. Clark: In your opinion, what’s the difference between faith, spirituality, and morality?
Mr. Washington: [pause] That’s a tough one. All three make up the recipe of sanity for me. I have to ease my ego by believing there is something bigger than myself. My wife and family keep me spiritually grounded. My wife is also my moral compass. In my experiences, growing up and being involved with football and later the military, both trained me to harm people. In order to win you’d have to “take out” a quarterback, but the rules say it’s okay. We’re going to drop bombs on people because they’re the enemy, but it was my duty. My morality was being challenged. Is it moral to harm people in order to win?
Mr. Clark: That sounds a little like the next movie you’re directing [“Cousins”]. It’s about a vigilante, correct?
Mr. Washington: Yes, a vigilante that is going after those who prey on children. Some people are okay with “frontier justice” while others say everyone deserves their day in court. I’m going to avoid telling the audience what to feel or how to think one way or the other.
Mr. Clark: That kind of sounds like a mix of “Death Wish” and “Dexter.”
Mr. Washington: And “La Femme Nikita.”
Mr. Clark: Are you the lead?
Mr. Washington: No, I play the government agent who hires a woman charged with going after the cartels involved in child trafficking.
Mr. Clark: Why a woman and not a man?
Mr. Washington: Cartels wouldn’t be expecting a woman; she’s the perfect mole. There’s also a little “Hanna,” “Atomic Blonde,” and “Point of No Return” in there as well.
Mr. Clark: Have you cast that role yet?
Mr. Washington: No, still looking. The actress has to be Italian.
Mr. Clark: Why? Couldn’t she be Latina? That sort of thing is done all the time.
Mr. Washington: I know, and [non-traditional casting] doesn’t work for me. Getting an Italian to play an Italian only increases the character’s authenticity. As good as he was in “Scarface,” Al Pacino isn’t Cuban and that kind of ruined it for me. You don’t see Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola hiring Hispanics to play Italian Americans; that’s my approach.
Isaiah Washington attends an Apple TV+ premiere in 2022 in Los Angeles. Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Mr. Clark: You hosted a travel and cooking show (“Kitchen Talk”). What is your favorite dish to cook?
Mr. Washington: Gosh, there are so many. Pasta Marinara. I can do a pretty mean Bolognese and Brazilian fish stew, and Bison ribeye. I don’t eat beef—It doesn’t agree with me. A lot of Mediterranean. Black beans with lamb. The list is endless. I love to eat and to feed people.
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