{"id":26123,"date":"2023-06-22T11:47:19","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T15:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=26123"},"modified":"2023-06-23T13:18:25","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T17:18:25","slug":"neal-mcdonough-shares-how-playing-the-devil-revealed-his-blessings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2023\/06\/neal-mcdonough-shares-how-playing-the-devil-revealed-his-blessings.html","title":{"rendered":"Neal McDonough Shares How Playing the Devil Revealed His Blessings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Actor Neal McDonough, known for playing a villain in most projects he takes on, said his latest role as the devil showed him how God has blessed him. McDonough is starring in a new Angel Studios action and sci-fi movie, “The Shift.” Though he typically plays the bad guy or villain, it’s the first time he’s played the devil.<\/p>\n

A synopsis of the film states that “The Shift” follows a man named Kevin, played by Kristoffer Polaha, “who finds himself in a dystopian world confronted by a mysterious stranger known as ‘The Benefactor,’ played by McDonough, who presents him with a challenge as he fights to shift realities and return to the woman he loves.”<\/p>\n

“Kevin will face off with the devil in a way that exposes his tricks and his lies by shining a light that cuts through all that darkness,” an overview of the film posted to the film’s\u00a0funding page reads. “Kevin will be presented with concrete temptations most of us can relate to, and we’ll see how his choices alter the world around him.”<\/p>\n

In a video interview with The Christian Post, McDonough said this film is “the first time I’ve played the devil.” While he initially decided he couldn’t play the devil, his wife, Ruve, convinced him to reconsider. He recalled, “She’s like: ‘You look perplexed; what’s wrong?” The couple prayed over and discussed the offered role, with Ruve asking, “Who’s a better villain in this town than you?” She also asked him, “What guy like you, who’s a villain, also has an amazing relationship with God?” McDonough responded, “I don’t know, probably not many.”<\/p>\n