The Oscar-winning actor Neal McDonough has faced criticism from the film industry before because of his political views, determination to not kiss other women on screen, and openness about his Christian religion.
McDonough’s most recent endeavor is a faith-based science fiction movie called “The Shift,” in which he collaborated with Angel Studios and plays “The Benefactor,” also referred to as Lucifer.
McDonough talked about the criticism he received for defending his belief in Hollywood and recalled how “incredibly painful” it was after his split from the entertainment business.
“I didn’t work for two years, you know. Everything was gone from me—house, car, this, that, you name it. Undoubtedly, it was one of the most terrible periods of my life. And Ruvé, my wife, supported me through everything and gave me confidence in my identity and principles. He remarked on “The Bottom Line” on Thursday, “And now here I am 10, 15 years later because of that, now doing all these films with Angel Studios.”
Renowned for his parts in critically praised films like “Band of Brothers” and “Minority Report,” McDonough is also well-known for his cameos in the DC and Marvel Cinematic Universes.
The “small film” star of “The Shift” is thrilled about the increasing attention it’s getting.
“It keeps growing, and as I stroll around New York City, I get approached by so many people who say, ‘Thank you so much for making ‘The Shift.'” “The Shift” is adored by us.
The faith-based science fiction movie is Angel Studios’ most recent crowd-funded theatrical production, coming off the success of the summer blockbuster “Sound of Freedom.”
McDonough talked candidly about his role in the movie and one of his favorite scenes.
“We saw humanity in the character; he was not always a God-fearing person and had committed mistakes. Everybody makes errors in life. What type of men and women we are for Him depends on how we choose to rise above those mistakes, according to McDonough.
“There’s that scene towards the end of the movie where, my goodness, I wish I had the lead character’s level of faith,” he went on. And I start to cry because it’s one of my favorite scenes from any movie I’ve ever been in.”
McDonough thanked Angel Studios and “The Shift,” expressing his love and admiration for both the movie and its ideals.
“Now we’re off to do more projects with Angel Studios in ‘Unity,’” he stated. “I’m overjoyed that Liam Griffin, one of my closest friends from my childhood, is a major backer of our upcoming endeavor. And I am the happiest guy in town to be able to accomplish this with my wife, Ruvé.”