LIST: Arkansas references in God's Not Dead 2
By Brandon Riddle / ArkansasOnline
References to central Arkansas, and particularly Little Rock, are aplenty in a religious film now in theaters — from numerous courtroom scenes at the Pulaski County Courthouse to the brief appearance of a Riverdale eatery.
The film itself is set in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Ark., with imagery of Arkansas' state flag appearing throughout the project.
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1. Pulaski County Courthouse
Filming of interior court scenes predominantly featured in God's Not Dead 2 took place last summer at the Pulaski County Courthouse in downtown Little Rock. There, Melissa Joan Hart's character, high school teacher Grace Wesley, and her attorney, played by Jesse Metcalfe, presented their case after Wesley became entangled in a legal battle over uttering Jesus' name in a classroom lesson. A courtroom on the building's second floor was used for the trial scenes, and additional scenes were filmed in the courthouse's ornate, stained glass-adorned atrium.
PHOTO BY 'GOD'S NOT DEAD 2'/PURE FLIX
2. Arkansas State Capitol
Featured at the beginning and end of God's Not Dead 2, the state Capitol symbolizes the justice system in the film and its outdoor steps become a gathering place for protesters at one point in the movie. At another point, Wesley is seen walking up a marble staircase in the building.Most shots of the state Capitol featured show the exterior of the building's east side. A scene depicting protesters in support of Wesley's right to speak on religion in the classroom, as well as those opposing her actions is also shown from the building's front steps, facing east toward West Capitol Avenue.
PHOTO BY STATON BREIDENTHAL/ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
3. Downtown Little Rock cityscape
Providing a glimpse into the core of Arkansas' capital city, aerial shots filmed of downtown Little Rock include the River Market district and Interstate 30 bridge, as well as a look at some of Little Rock's tallest buildings. Upon a closer look of one scene, viewers of God's Not Dead 2 will see a trolley passing by a window on South Spring Street from the Pulaski County Courthouse.
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4. Benton High School
Referred to as Martin Luther King Jr. High School in the film, Benton High School appears as the origin of the legal debate that is central to God's Not Dead 2. While the movie is set in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Ark., a reference to Benton Public Schools on a bus managed to slip its way in during an exterior shot.Principal Lita Gattis said, for about three days last summer, the production team utilized her office, as well as a classroom, teacher's lounge and hallways at the school. "We were tickled to death that they wanted to use our school," Gattis said.
PHOTO BY 'GOD'S NOT DEAD 2'/PURE FLIX
5. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee
Arkansas' former Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee makes a brief appearance in God's Not Dead 2, playing himself on mock talk show Points of View. Another former politician, the late U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, also appears in the movie as a senior pastor.
PHOTO BY CARY JENKINS/ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
6. KARK-TV news personalities
Two familiar faces on Little Rock NBC affiliate KARK-TV make appearances as broadcast journalists in the film, including morning news anchor Mallory Brooks, who plays a "tough, bulldog-type news anchor" on a fictional news station. KARK reporter Victoria Price also appears in the movie.