Michael W. Smith Plays a Lead Role in Don Piper's "90 Minutes in Heaven" Movie (Watch Trailer Here)

By Timothy Yap Mar 19, 2015 06:19 AM EDT

Don Piper's book "90 Minutes in Heaven" which sold 6 million copies was translated into 46 languages. Now the book will be made into a movie and is scheduled for a fall 2015 release. The movie stars Hayden Christensen (STAR WARS, JUMPER) and Kate Bosworth (BLUE CRUSH, SUPERMAN RETURNS), and written and directed by Michael Polish (THE ASTRONAUT FARMER, TWIN FALLS). The film also is the first movie from Giving Films, which uses its profits to help widows and orphans.

Worship leader Michael W. Smith will appear in the movie as family friend Cliff McArdle--Eva's rock when the accident news reaches her. While country singer Dwight Yoakam makes a comedic cameo as "Lawyer Beaumont," Don's attorney. Veteran actor Fred Dalton Thompson (SECRETARIAT, DIE HARD 2) is straight-talking Jay B. Perkins, who convinced Don to accept help. Don's best friend, David Gentiles, is played by Jason Kennedy, correspondent for E! News, now host of "Beyond A.D.," a digital talk show companion to the upcoming network series, "A.D. The Bible Continues."

The book revolves around Don Piper's near death auto-mobile accident. On January 18, 1989, Baptist minister Don Piper was on his way home from a conference in Texas when a semi-trailer truck struck his Ford Escort while crossing a bridge. Piper states that he was crushed by the roof of his car, the steering wheel impaled his chest, and the dashboard collapsed on both of his legs. When paramedics arrived, they could find no sign of life in Piper and covered him with a tarp as a fellow pastor prayed over him while waiting for the medical examiner to arrive.

According to Piper, he went straight to Heaven and experienced things he describes as amazing and beautiful, including meeting family members such as his great-grandmother and joining a Heavenly Choir that proceeded into the Gates of Heaven. Piper, an ordained minister since 1985, has recounted his narrative before 3,000 live audiences that included more than 1.5 million people and appeared on numerous television and radio programs