By Paul Salfen
In the ever-evolving landscape of faith-based cinema, few films have endured quite like “What If…,” the heartfelt story of redemption and divine intervention that first captivated audiences 15 years ago. Directed by Dallas Jenkins—long before his groundbreaking series “The Chosen” became a global sensation—this modern-day twist on “It’s a Wonderful Life” is making a triumphant return to theaters. Thanks to Fathom Entertainment, fans old and new can experience it on the big screen for a special two-night anniversary event on August 5 and 7, 2025, complete with exclusive bonus content featuring a cast reunion and roundtable discussion.
Starring Kevin Sorbo as ambitious businessman Ben Walker, who awakens to an alternate life as a small-town pastor married to his college sweetheart (played by Kristy Swanson), the film also boasts memorable performances from John Ratzenberger and Debby Ryan. It’s a blend of humor, heart, and profound family themes that marked Jenkins’ first foray into faith films—and Sorbo’s as well. As Jenkins himself noted in a recent statement, “Before ‘The Chosen,’ this was the project that changed everything for me. ‘What If…’ helped me realize the kinds of stories I want to tell.”
I recently caught up with Kevin Sorbo to discuss the re-release, his memories from the set, and how this film kickstarted his passion for faith-based storytelling. Sorbo, known for his iconic roles in “Hercules” and “Andromeda,” has since become a staple in inspirational cinema, and his enthusiasm for “What If…” remains as strong as ever.
Paul Salfen: Kevin, you’ve been busy nonstop. Did you see this re-release coming?
Kevin Sorbo: Busy, busy. Nonstop stuff. This just got added on to everything else I got going on, which is fine by me. What’s interesting is that I think this is a better movie than “God’s Not Dead.” Not that it’s the same writers—Chuck and Cary, the writers of both these, might be offended by that because they think it’s a better movie than “God’s Not Dead” too. And I think “God’s Not Dead” is a great movie, but it just shows you the frustration of independent movies. How do you get these things out there when you don’t have a $100 million Disney budget to promote? When it’s a $2 million budget on a movie? So, you know, but this is the battle we have for indies. We need strong word of mouth. We need people to support them.
Sorbo’s point underscores the challenges of indie filmmaking, especially in the faith genre, where word-of-mouth and community support are crucial. Yet, “What If…” has proven its staying power. Jenkins shared that his own family rewatches it often, with his children favoring it even over “The Chosen.” Sorbo has been a tireless promoter, mentioning the film in his books and speaking events, reaching hundreds of thousands and boosting its streaming numbers year after year.
Paul Salfen: Do you have some particular good memories from the set that you’ll always take with you?
Kevin Sorbo: Yeah, just working with such a great cast, great crew. A couple of people on the crew I had worked with before in other independent movies. So it was like going to old home school for me. Michigan reminds me very much of my home state of Minnesota. A lot of similarities there. We shot on the West Coast along the lake, and then we shot in Grand Rapids for the city stuff. It was just a lot of fun. Dallas was into it. John Ratzenberger was amazing. And then Kristy Swanson—she and I’ve done a couple of movies since then. It’s just got such a wonderful message. I love the heart that’s captured. I like the humor that’s in it as well. I’ve always liked humor in everything I do.
The film’s production in Michigan brought a sense of familiarity for Sorbo, and the chemistry among the cast shines through. Ratzenberger, best known from “Cheers” and Pixar voices, adds his signature wit, while Swanson brings warmth to the role of Ben’s rediscovered love. As Sorbo notes, the humor—reminiscent of his action-packed series like “Hercules”—keeps the story light while delivering its deeper message.
Speaking of Jenkins, Sorbo praised his vision and resilience. After a previous film flopped, Jenkins nearly quit the industry, but “What If…” paved the way for “The Chosen,” which exploded through crowdfunding and innovative distribution. Sorbo has visited the sets of “The Chosen” in Utah and Texas, even joking with Jenkins about a cameo: “Dude, we haven’t worked since 2010 together, so maybe once every 15 years you can throw a bone.”
Paul Salfen: An interesting part about the timing on this is that when this came out 15 years ago, the ability to talk about faith in regular entertainment interviews was a little bit different. I feel like something has changed. Did you kind of feel that way too—that maybe this is more the time for the movie?
Kevin Sorbo: Could be. I think that was my first really faith-based movie that I’ve ever done. And I love that it’s got a great message. It’s got a lot of humor in it as well. It’s such a wonderful reverse “It’s a Wonderful Life” type of story. After I did it, I said, I’m going to do more of these. And then, of course, I’d follow up with “What If…,” which was hugely successful, and “Let There Be Light,” which I directed, “Miracles from Heaven,” and you know, it’s just—the genre has exploded. There’s so many people doing wonderful work: the Kendricks, Erwin brothers, Sony Affirm company. There’s so many great movies out there, and the production value is just as good as anything else out there.
Sorbo highlights the genre’s growth, crediting filmmakers like the Kendrick Brothers and Erwin Brothers for elevating faith-based stories. He contrasts this with mainstream Hollywood’s focus on high-budget spectacle: “I even get tired of these movies that spend $300 million, and all they do is blow up New York City… These are stories that people can relate to.”
Despite facing detractors for his faith, Sorbo sees his work as a “mission field,” countering negativity with hope. “We get people writing every day saying, ‘I became a Christian because of your movies.’ To me, that’s amazing.”
Paul Salfen: Was there a defining moment in the movie that stood out to you—like a Hail Mary?
Kevin Sorbo: I think I’ve got to go back to “Hercules.” I competed against 2,800 actors for that role… That really was a catalyst to get my career going. Because honestly, without “Hercules” and the hit that it became around the world, I wouldn’t have gotten “What If…?” But “What If…” is really, for me, the start of me wanting to do more and more of these kinds of movies.
Looking ahead, Sorbo has a packed slate: four new movies (two secular comedies, two faith-based), three faith documentaries, and a Christmas film. He’s also teaming up with Dean Cain for a faith-comedy in Vegas. Upcoming docs include “Eating with the Enemy” (about the Last Supper) and “Against the World” with apologist John Lennox.
Paul Salfen: What are you hoping people will think about after watching?
Kevin Sorbo: I hope they’re inspired by the message about love and hope and redemption, about second chances. Because everybody—it doesn’t matter how bad your life has been… There’s a lot of chances out there to turn your life around. It’s really up to you to want to do it.
As the re-release approaches, the theatrical event promises fresh insights with the cast reunion, hosted by Jenkins and including producer Michael Scott. “Fifteen years later, ‘What If…’ remains a powerful reminder of how God can redirect our path for something greater,” said Scott.
Tickets are on sale now at FathomEvents.com or SorboStudios.com. Whether it’s your first time or a nostalgic revisit, “What If…” invites us all to ponder the life we were meant to live. Don’t miss this chance to see where it all began for Dallas Jenkins and Kevin Sorbo.
