A faith-based film shot largely in Little Rock last summer was seen Monday night for the first time by most of the people behind the project, including its big-name lead actor.
Melissa Joan Hart in a Twitter post Monday said the screening of God's Not Dead 2 at Riverdale 10 Cinema in Little Rock was her first of many stops planned as part of a publicity tour.
In the film, Hart plays Grace Wesley, a high school teacher in the fictional town of Hope Springs, Ark., who becomes entangled in a legal battle after answering a religious question about Jesus.
[VIDEO: Click here to watch the trailer for God's Not Dead 2]
Before Monday's screening, Hart spoke fondly of her time in the state's capital city.
"I loved going for a run every morning by the [Arkansas] River," she said. "I loved taking my kids down there when they came to visit me."
Filming took place between May and September at some of Little Rock's landmarks, including the state Capitol and Pulaski County Courthouse.
Hart joked that God's Not Dead 2 director Harold Cronk, who was also present at Monday's screening, made her walk up and down a marble staircase at the state Capitol "a million times in high heels."
"I had to walk up that staircase so many times, but it was beautiful," she said.
Hart said the opportunity to star in her first faith-based film as a Christian appeared as a "calling," adding that at times filming felt like a Bible study.
"I think that the big message overall is that Jesus as a historical figure did exist," she said. "I hope that is what viewers will come to."
While the film is a sequel to its predecessor, Hart said it acts as a standalone project — with a few familiar faces from God's Not Dead making appearances.
God's Not Dead 2 producer Brittany Lefebvre said at the Little Rock screening that the sequel is a continuation of a "concept" relating to freedom of religion and the ability to speak on faith in public.
"We felt really compelled that this is kind of a story that hits on a very hot topic right now within our country," she said, adding that the faith-based film could be viewed as "going across the board" rather than only speaking about Christianity.
Moviegoers who go to see God's Not Dead 2 when it opens April 1 will also see appearances from former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who played a host of a fictional talk show.
Two KARK-TV journalists — morning show anchor Mallory Brooks and reporter Victoria Price — also landed parts in the film, appropriately in similar roles to their day jobs.
Arkansas residents who landed roles in the movie, as well as other attendees, were also granted access to the private screening, which was hosted by the Arkansas Film Commission.
