Making the Billy Graham movie

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The story of Billy Graham is known all around the globe. He’s a Charlotte boy who grew in stature to become an icon.

So, naturally, those early years of his life make for a perfect movie script.

“He was spiritual. He was loving. And he was giving. There is beauty in him,” explains director Robby Benson.

The movie is called "Billy: The Early Years." It’s being filmed right now in Watertown, Tenn., and is likely to be released this fall.

The film focuses on the part of Graham’s life that a lot of people don’t know all that much about. It’s not about the so-called Pastor to the Presidents or the Minister to the Millions. It’s about Graham’s early faith and his rise to power.

“No one really knows all that much about what happens before the Los Angeles crusade,” said Armie Hammer, the actor who plays Graham in the movie.

Because it focuses so heavily on his early life, the film has very deep Carolina roots. One scene, for example, depicts Charlotte’s Central and Pecan in 1934.

On the day we were on set, the cast was filming a scene at the core of the movie. In that scene, Charles Templeton explains his struggles with faith.

He says, “Billy, I’m at a crossroads. How can anyone take the Bible, as the literal word of God?”

The scene shows some of the tests Graham faced, and his ability to rise above them.

The cast hopes it will be a movie with lessons for all faiths. They call it an exciting project, and hope that it will touch the lives of many.

Said Benson, “What an incredible legacy to get out into the world."