By Chris Daniel
‘One boy’s wish changed a man. One man’s wish changed the world,’ goes the slogan. Since its creation in 1980, the Make-A-Wish-Foundation has granted wishes to more than 400,000 terminally ill children in 50 countries worldwide.
After more than 30 years, Frank Shankwitz, one of the creators behind the foundation, finally has his own wish granted; to have a story told in a way that could be shared with his grandkids, so that they could see the efforts made in order to make the world a little bit brighter.
In his younger years, Shankwitz was a motorcycle cop haunted by the traumatic separation from his father. After surviving a near-fatal accident and being framed for police brutality, his whole world falls apart and hope seems lost.
Wish Man covers Frank’s young life, where hope is found in the form of Chris, a terminally ill child who teaches Frank that everyone can be a hero. His story unfolds and reveals the determination and unwavering commitment to the lives of children worldwide.
The film is helmed by English director Theo Davies and will be distributed worldwide in 2018, and in the lead role playing Shankwitz is Australian actor Andrew Steel, who is possibly best known for playing Batman in the satirical web series The Justice Lease.
Director Theo Davies states, “This is not just the story of the man who started the most celebrated children’s charity the world has ever seen.” Instead, the film will also explore the darkness hiding inside a highway patrol motorcycle cop, who must fight his trauma to find happiness, peace and salvation.
Wish Man is scheduled to commence filming in late August, with Kirby Bliss Blanton (Project X, The Green Inferno) co-starring.
