This week, it was announced in The Hollywood Reporter that tight end Benjamin Watson, who plays for the New England Patriots, will be producing a pro-life documentary called Divided Hearts of America. The film will feature notable figures including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, Alveda King and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.
Watson, a pro-life Christian, started production of the film in May, and it is currently in post-production stages.
He told The Hollywood Reporter, “ “My goal is to unveil the truth about abortion, the laws, the history and where our country is headed. I believe in the sanctity of life, be it in the womb or on your deathbed. That’s my conviction. But with the film, I’ll engage those who disagree and hear their reasoning. The No. 1 thing I’m looking for is empathy on both sides.”
Watson says that the movie, which has a lean budget of less than $1 million, is also financed by some donors and the Christian charity he runs with his wife called the “One More Foundation,” which focuses on hunger, poverty, prison reform, and other social issues.
Watson played for 15 years in the NFL and has said he’ll retire when his contract expires around the Super Bowl. He will have began and ended his career with New England.