“Captive”, a true story of faith, redemption and survival

The upcoming faith-based film "Captive", tells the true-to-life story of meth addict Ashley Robinson (formerly Ashley Smith) who was held captive by the murderer Brian Nichols, and how both their lives were touched by Pastor Rick Warren's bestselling book "The Purpose Driven Life", and they were never the same.

The film, which stars David Oyelowo and Kate Mara, will be released on September 18, 2015, is directed by Jerry Jameson with the screenplay written by Brian Bird, based on the novel written by Smith herself entitled "Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero."

Mara (Fantastic Four, Iron Man 2, House of cards) plays meth addict Smith, who was held captive in her own apartment for seven hours back in March 2005 by Nichols, played by Oyelowo (Selma, Interstellar). Nichols was trying to evade authorities after escaping from jail and murdering the judge assigned to his case.

LIVES CHANGED

While cooped up in her apartment, Smith begins reading aloud chapter 32 of Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" in hopes of encouraging her captor to let her go.

Warren's book not only softens Nichols' heart but also touches Smith's own in such a profound way that she never dealt with drugs again after that night.

"In the months since being held hostage by Nichols, a great deal in my life has changed. Some days I wake up and think everything has changed. My life is by no means perfect, but it is different, it finally seems to be on the right track; and for that I am grateful," Smith writes in her book.

Before Nichols took her hostage, Smith described herself as a struggling mother dealing with drug addiction, trying to regain custody of her daughter, and just simply trying to get her life in order.

“She is a huge spokesperson now for the Celebrate Recovery movement because she has been clean and sober since that night. It took a killer to save her life because she didn’t believe she was ever going to be able to kick the crystal meth“, Brian Bird told Patheos.com in an interview.

A BROKEN MURDERER

On March, 11, 2005, Brian Nichols was at the courthouse in Atlanta for a hearing on his rape trial. He shot a judge, a court reporter and a deputy, then took three guns and escaped from the courthouse and was on the run for 24 hours.

That night, desperate to make contact with his newborn son, he took Ashley Smith hostage in her apartment.

She was brave enough to stay calm and read to him from Rick Warren’s book, which ultimately was the catalyst that caused him to give up. “It is possible that God looks at Brian to give him a last chance”, Ashley declared in an interview.

Nichols was taken into custody 26 hours later. The prosecution charged him with committing 54 crimes during the escape and he was sentenced to multiple life sentences with no chance of parole.

“Maybe you are the angel that God has sent me”, the murderer said to Smith before he was arrested.

“I WAS DRAWN TO THIS STORY”

”This is a film we’ve been trying to get made since the event happened in 2005, when Ashley Smith was a young widow”, Brian Bird, screenwriter of the film, said.

He had good words for the actors: “We’ve got a great cast”, specially David Oyelowo: “He is a strong, committed Christian himself, was a youth pastor at one point in his life, just a fantastic man”

The actor, known for his role in Selma, expressed his joy for being part of the cast: “I was drawn to this story because it beautifully illustrates how a broken spirit can be healed by an unexpected source of hope.”