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Plot Summary: Steve Carell reprises his role as Evan Baxter -- the polished, preening newscaster of the first film -- who finds himself the next one anointed by God (Morgan Freeman) to accomplish a holy mission.

Newly elected to Congress, Evan leaves Buffalo behind and shepherds his family to suburban northern Virginia. Once there, his life gets turned upside-down when God appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark. But his befuddled wife (Lauren Graham) and kids just can't decide whether Evan is having an extraordinary mid-life crisis or is truly onto something of Biblical proportions... — More here

1. Production Information
When Universal Pictures’ comedy Bruce Almighty arrived at the summer box office on Memorial Day weekend in 2003, it blew audiences and box-office records away. Director/Producer TOM SHADYAC had crafted yet another film that spoke to moviegoers’ desires to suspend disbelief and spend time following extraordinarily funny people who were put in outlandish circumstances.

2. And Bruce beget Evan: The Next Chapter in the Almighty Series
Four years after the release of Bruce Almighty, Tom Shadyac remained intrigued by the spiritual. Though having declined offers to sequels before, he very much wanted to return to familiar territory with this next installment in the Almighty series. “We always thought it would be fun to make different chapters in a God series rather than just make a straight sequel to Bruce Almighty,” remarks the director. “It always felt more fruitful, creatively, to spin off different characters.”

3. Lions and Tigers and Alpacas…
Live Animals of Evan Almighty
According to the Book of Genesis, God’s creatures instinctually gravitated toward Noah two by two. The filmmakers on the set of Evan Almighty, however, had to look to veteran animal coordinator Mark Forbes to oversee the selection, care and training for well over 177 different species brought in from all over the country. From his first meeting with the team, Forbes knew he needed to surpass his past efforts on films such as Dr. Dolittle 2 to fill the prow of Evan’s mighty ship.

4. God’s Funniest Mammals:
Supporting Cast of the Comedy
The filmmakers set out to bring together a well-rounded ensemble of equally funny standout performers to complement their principal human and animal cast. Actress Lauren Graham, known for her role on the popular television series Gilmore Girls, joined the cast as Evan’s patient wife on the ark, Joan (yes, pun intended). The filmmakers were thrilled when the performer, whom Shadyac considers “one of the most gifted comediennes on television today,” agreed to be the better half of the Baxter couple.

5. “Ark Building for Dummies”:
Rewriting the Manual
Early on during the writing process, Shadyac sat with Oedekerk, discussing the ark and what they envisioned for it. Little did they know that their preliminary research would set the foundation for one of the film’s most elaborate and jaw-dropping set pieces. The design and timing of the construction schedule of the ark set, complex to say the least, would become one of the biggest challenges for the company.

6. Digital Floods and Thousands of Creatures:
Visual Effects of the Production
Creating Water & Redefining Feathers and Fur
While in days gone by, miniatures, rear projection and optical matting would provide a flood of biblical proportions on the silver screen, it was no longer feasible to bring movie audiences images that they could see through in an instant. To meet the specifications of the director and producers, Evan Almighty would need to break new ground (erm, water) in how it would render torrential waters onto an unsuspecting city.

7. Ecological Almighty:
How the Production Went Green
Attempting to modernize elements of a legendary biblical tale like that of Noah’s Ark necessitated a compelling, wide-reaching theme that would not trivialize a story cherished by many. The filmmakers felt an environmental theme was especially appropriate and strengthened the heart of the screenplay (and added to the humor). As the story took shape, Shadyac and the other producers made their own commitment to be environmentally conscious as they proceeded.

8. Turning Steve into Evan: Makeup and Costumes
When assembling the behind-the-scenes team, Shadyac, Bostick and Spyglass Entertainment producers Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber and Original Film’s Neal H. Moritz turned to the talented group of creative individuals with whom they collaborated on previous projects, including Bruce Almighty.

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Get an idea of the news this film is generating by glancing at the news below. We post a variety of news clipings from a wide range of international publications. Movies are truly the powerful common stories of "the gobal village" that are bringing world transformation.

Hollywood's leap of faith with 'Evan Almighty'
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jun 19, 2007
But on Friday, Universal Pictures will release "Evan Almighty," an overtly spiritual Noah's ark comedy squarely aimed at the nation's faithful....

Curb Records to Release Soundtrack to 'Evan Almighty'
Earthtimes.org - Jun 19, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 19 -- Curb Records is set to release the soundtrack for the Universal Pictures summer blockbuster "Evan Almighty...

Morgan Freeman The "Evan Almighty" Interview with Kam Williams
NewsBlaze, CA - Jun 19, 2007
Here, he talks a bit about his current flick, Evan Almighty, where he's reprising his role as God. KW: Did you have any second thoughts about agreeing to...

Lauren Graham Plays Mom in Evan Almighty
About - News & Issues, NY - Jun 19, 2007
Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) stars as a mother of three who questions her husband's sanity when he claims God has told him to build an ark in Evan Almighty...

Evan Almighty is The Most Expensive Comedy Movie of All Time
/FILM, MA - Jun 19, 2007
Optimus Prime: I haven’t yet seen Wing Commander, but I’ve heard from my cousin it’s really... Doug: This is a very creative poster in my opinion....

Jeremy Camp, Switchfoot Entertain Thousands at Evan Almighty Concert
Christian Today -- Australia, Australia - Jun 18, 2007
Christian artist Jeremy Camp performed before a sold-out crowd of over 5000 people recently at an Evan Almighty-sponsored gig. ...

Interview: Lauren Graham Loses Her Husband to Possible Insanity in ...
MovieWeb - Jun 18, 2007
Easy. She helps Steve Carell build in Ark in the comedy follow-up Evan Almighty. In the film, Lauren plays Evan Baxter's wife. When she finds out that her ...

Wanda Sykes Interview, Evan Almighty
MoviesOnline, Canada - Jun 17, 2007
MoviesOnline caught up with Wanda Sykes at the Los Angeles press day to promote her new film, "Evan Almighty.” Sykes has been called "one of the funniest ...

Evan's gate
Minnesota Public Radio, MN - Jun 19, 2007
storyId=11181132 on Morning Edition today about "Evan Almighty." It's apparently the most expensive comedy ever made at $175 million. ...

Thou Shalt Read Our List Of Top 10 Film Portrayals Of God, In Rewind
MTV.com - Jun 19, 2007
By Karl Heitmueller Morgan Freeman reprises the role of God in "Evan Almighty," the sequel to 2003's "Bruce Almighty," which got us thinking about other ...

Evan Almighty: Insert Caption
Cinematical, CA - Jun 16, 2007
This week we've got goodies from the zany Steve Carell comedy Evan Almighty to bestow upon thee (as you can probably tell by now, we very much enjoy ...

"Evan Almighty"--Good, Clean Christian Comedy
Campus Progress, DC - Jun 15, 2007
Notably, “Evan Almighty” is rated PG, unlike its slightly naughtier predecessor, “Bruce Almighty,” which received a PG-13. The producers have also ensured ...

'Evan Almighty' premieres in Charlottesville
WDBJ7.com, VA - Jun 15, 2007
(AP) - Charlottesville got a taste of Hollywood with the local premiere of the upcoming movie "Evan Almighty." Parts of the movie were filmed last year in ...

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