Kirk Cameron opened up about how his new film “Lifemark” came to be, saying it’s a story about “life” and the message that adoption can be a “compassionate, beautiful, solution to a very difficult problem in our culture today.”
The 51-year-old actor spoke to The Daily Wire Thursday about his new film that touches on pro-life and pro-choice issues, and said it provides proof that “the power of one choice impacts more than just one life.”
A description of the movie reads: “David’s comfortable world is turned upside down when his birth mother unexpectedly reaches out to him, longing to meet the 18-year-old son she’s only held once. With the encouragement of his adoptive parents, David embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to a staggering truth from his past.”
It stars Cameron, Rebecca Rogers Nelson, Raphael Ruggero, Dawn Long, Justin Sterner, Marisa Hampton and Alex Kendrick. Both Cameron and Kendrick act in the movie and are executive producers on the film. It comes just months after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade as a result of the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The ruling recognizes that there is no constitutional right to an abortion and returns the issue to the states, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
The “Fireproof” star told us that one thing a lot of people might not know is they started making the movie “two and a half years ago,” but the pandemic delayed things.
“We had no idea that the timing of the release of this film, which was delayed by COVID, would be so unbelievable with the overturning of Roe V. Wade,” Kirk explained. “People talk about pro-life, pro-choice, but they forget about the adoption option.”
“It seems that we’re divided almost by design over everything imaginable,” he added. “From politics to race to gender to vaccination status, and most recently over this issue of life and abortion.”
“We need a way to look at this issue through the lens of love — love for the birth mom, love for the unborn baby, love for the adoptive parents who are longing to have a baby,” the actor continued. “And ‘Lifemark’ shows a compassionate, beautiful solution to a very difficult problem in our culture today.”
Cameron explained that the movie came to be after he watched a link sent to him of “a little documentary” detailing the real-life story of David Scotton, which was “the basis” for the film. It’s called “I Lived on Parker Avenue.”
He said it touched him personally because it was about adoption, something he and his wife, Chelsea Noble, are very familiar with after they adopted the first four of their six kids — not because they couldn’t have children, he explained. But because they wanted to and thought it was a “beautiful way to have a family.”
Cameron said his wife and four children “were one doctor appointment away from not being here.” Kirk added that if his wife hadn’t been born, then neither would their two natural born kids.
“And you saw the movie, you saw the power of one choice,” the “Growing Pains” star shared. “And when a woman chooses adoption she has no idea what’s going to happen. But what can happen is the answers to the prayers of that couple who couldn’t have kids. And this amazing life of this young man.”
Kirk talked about how this film is pro-family, pro-reconciliation, pro-forgiveness, and so much more. He said he hopes the movie “not only provides the adoption option as a solution to the difficult culture problem that we’re continuing to fight about. But that more families will be formed when people get comfortable and excited about the beauty of adoption.”
“That’s love, that’s grace,” the actor explained. “And God makes families in incredible ways.”
Cameron said he hopes another thing people came way with from the film is that abortion, even though it’s often “framed as woman’s issue” and that “men need to stay out of” it, that “couldn’t be further from the truth,”
He noted a statistic that shows women who have abortions say the “number one” influential person in their life to help her make the decision is “the father of the child.”
“There’s men who are carrying around all of these thoughts and emotions, guilt and shame and pain and all this because they know that there are long lasting, emotional effects to abortion,” Cameron told us. “And I’m hoping that people will watch this movie, regardless of whether they are pro-life or pro-choice and it leaves them with this message of life is precious. Forgiveness is available. Reconciliation and new beginnings are possible. And we don’t need to fight over a difficult unplanned pregnancy. We just need to come together.”
Later, he reiterated that what he hopes people come away with after watching this film is that “one choice effects so many more people than one or two people.”
“I want people to come away saying ‘you know what, life is a gift from God. It’s precious,'” Cameron explained. “‘And it should be protected and celebrated. And defended at all costs.’ And the adoption option is a beautiful third choice in the midst of the pro-life, pro-choice debate.”
“That one life given a chance to live impacts countless people,” he added. ” Your parents, your siblings, the biological mom and dad. The grandparents. And the best friend. And who knows that person could grow up and cure cancer, could be the next President of the United States …”
“Lifemark” hits theaters September 9. It will run in movie theaters for at least a week and will go longer as audience demand grows — a move Kirk said that Fathom has never tried. For tickets and more information go to Lifemarkmovie.com.
Related: Amy Schumer, Chelsea Handler And More Stars React To Overturn Of Roe V. Wade