Adam Anders, the director of movies like “Rock of Ages,” the “Dirty Dancing” reboot, and the Christian film “Journey to Bethlehem,” revealed to The Christian Post that his next project will veer away from his usual musical format into a much more serious realm: spiritual warfare. “My next project is a thriller with Lionsgate next about spiritual warfare. It’s going to be a huge movie. It’s not a musical, which is crazy, but a great challenge. I’m very excited. I’m just writing it right now,” he said. Anders admitted the film has been on his mind for some time but that he has avoided it because, “opening yourself up to the topic is scary.”

Despite his reservations, Anders recognized it was a calling to tackle the tough topic, especially coming from an industry like Hollywood that is drenched in spiritual warfare. He called Los Angeles, where he lives, “the epicenter [of spiritual warfare],” and that as a Christian in LA “I’m a man on an island.” However, Hollywood’s own impact on the culture has been far-reaching. “Hollywood is where culture is shaped, and it affects the whole world. That’s why the devil does his best work there. He wants to be there and affect culture for the whole world,” he said. He told CP that as he’s worked on the project, he has received more peace. “The more I got into it, the more peace I felt about it, and I felt totally comfortable doing it. I hope that movie will be able to reveal what’s actually going on, so people understand there’s a veil over your eyes. What’s actually going on is there’s a battle for our souls. And we need to show people that.”

Hollywood has long been a place of criticism from many Christians. Last year’s Grammy Awards featured Sam Smith and Kim Petras performing their song “Unholy,” while dressed in demonic clothing and using demonic imagery. Many blasted the performance as “anti-Christian.” The popular Christian website, “Got Questions?” offers cautions against Hollywood. “Although there are many Christians living in Hollywood and working in the film industry, much of the entertainment produced there is completely secular,” the site warns. “Many movies promote lavish materialism, adultery, sensuality, self-worship, and idolatry. Some Hollywood movies exhibit a blatant anti-God bias. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) abound in the movies Hollywood produces. Going to the theater can be a dangerous proposition for believers who wish to keep their minds pure.” The site goes on to say, “If Hollywood is not reflecting the values we claim to cherish, then we must be careful how much time we spend with it. To honor God, we must compare the values coming out of Hollywood to the unchanging standard of Scripture.”