Production is underway for the feature film adaptation of David Magee’s “Dear William” memoir, founder of The Magee Foundation. The film is set to shoot for 30 consecutive days in Greenwood, Miss., with additional scenes to be shot in Oxford and on the University of Mississippi campus.
The Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program is producing the film.
“This story has always belonged to Mississippi,” Magee said. “Students and families here have been part of it from the beginning. This is a storytelling state — there was never another place to make it.”
The best-selling author and producer is known for his memoir “Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss,” which received national recognition as a Publishers Weekly bestseller.
“Dear William” tells the true story of the Magee family’s journey from addiction, grief and profound loss to healing, hope and renewed purpose after losing their son, William.
“That book has been powerful because I finally found a purpose, an impact for my writing, and it helped me in a way. I was no longer writing for a paycheck,” Magee said.
Born and raised in Oxford, David Magee has used his powerful storytelling and resources in an attempt to help others. In September 2019, Magee helped establish The William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing and the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education.
“I was an adopted kid, dropped into Oxford, Mississippi, and I needed a family,” Magee said. “This university has been my family.”
From the large impact and positive reception this book generated, Magee wondered what he could do to reach a bigger audience.
“If we (accomplished so much) in a book, what if we had a movie and reached millions and started a movement, and (what if) we could build resources to help people off of this?” Magee said.
The process of beginning the foundational work to produce a film was difficult, Magee said.
“I’ve worked on this for three years, seeking the right director, seeking national partners for if we get a movie,” Magee said. “How can we build resources … so we can help people? How could the movie be used while it’s out?”
The project recently received a grant of $800,000 from Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s Opioid Settlement Fund, making the feature film part of a broader statewide drug abuse prevention initiative.
The film is written and directed by Andrew Hyatt and stars Matt Passmore, Gabriel Nagy, Emily Rose and Hudson Macready. Hyatt most recently wrote and directed “The Blind,” chronicling the early life of “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson.
“I sought out Andrew (Hyatt),” Magee said. “I watched his movie ‘The Blind.’… There were a fair amount of people in the theater, and I watched how they were reacting to what he put on screen. It was a similar type of story about family and addiction and hope.”
Through the initial process, Magee has only positive remarks about his crew.
“It’s unbelievable. … We have had such deep bonding. They care so much about this project,” Magee said.
Magee hopes for the film to be released in 2027.
