Kevin Sorbo, the actor raised in Mound who became a household name with the TV series Hercules and Andromeda, has quietly reshaped his career in recent years and become a prominent figure in the nation’s faith-based film scene.
A return to steady work in smaller productions
Sorbo, now 67, told reporters after a day of shooting in West Virginia that the independent-movie environment has opened a stream of short, focused jobs that let him remain professionally active without long, drawn-out commitments. According to internet movie databases, he currently has dozens of films listed as upcoming. The actor said many of those parts are scheduled to be filmed in compact blocks.
"It's kind of a boom time in the independent world," Sorbo said.
Sorbo explained that while he directed a project that took a month earlier this year, his normal pattern is to sign on for roles that can be shot in roughly four to eight days. That approach, he said, suits his schedule at this stage of his career.
Faith-based films and box-office traction
The rise of faith-based pictures has given Sorbo renewed visibility. Industry estimates put the domestic take of that genre at about $250 million in 2025. One of Sorbo’s earlier faith-oriented involvements, the 2014 picture God’s Not Dead, had a modest production budget but a strong box-office showing: with a budget near $2 million, it ended up grossing more than $62 million domestically.
Those figures help explain why independent companies continue to finance and distribute the type of projects that have become a reliable niche market. For Sorbo, the financial viability of faith-based films is one factor in his current workload.
Roles and current projects
One of the actor’s current films, Elijah Peel, is playing in Minnesota venues in Coon Rapids and Inver Grove Heights. In that story, Sorbo plays the manager of a drug-addicted rock star who experiences a Christian conversion after meeting a cancer patient. The film's local screenings are notable: they bring a national figure back into Minnesota theaters in a genre that has a distinct and engaged audience.
Sorbo also described a possible shoot in Minnesota later this year. He said he was scheduled to be on a film at the Brainerd race track in September, a role he compared to a Paul Newman–type character in the movie Cars. "I’ve never shot in Minnesota before," he said, indicating a desire to work in his home state.
Career memories and creative choices
Looking back on his earlier TV days, Sorbo recounted memories from the original Hercules productions and stories about working with senior actors. He recalled that in the made-for-TV movies that launched the series, Anthony Quinn played Zeus and offered on-set mentorship.
Sorbo also touched on other phases of his career. He said he had tested and shot a sitcom pilot in 2005 called Bobby Cannon, written by Barry Kemp, and that while it tested well with audiences, the network ultimately did not pick it up.
Local connections and what it means for Minnesota audiences
For Minnesota readers, Sorbo’s continued presence in film offers several tangible touchpoints:
- Local screenings: Elijah Peel is currently showing in Coon Rapids and Inver Grove Heights.
- Potential local production work: Sorbo mentioned a planned September shoot at Brainerd that, if it proceeds, would bring a national-profile actor to a Minnesota set.
- Genre growth: the faith-based sector’s recent box-office strength suggests opportunities for regional theaters and local distributors to program related fare.
Below is a small summary of the figures Sorbo and the industry cited during the interview:
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Faith-based films (U.S. box office, 2025) | $250 million |
| God’s Not Dead (budget) | $2 million |
| God’s Not Dead (gross) | $62 million+ |
Public profile and politics
The actor did not shy away from discussing his public stance. In the interview he affirmed his support for President Donald Trump, a detail that reflects how his public persona extends beyond acting into cultural and political conversation. That stance is one of several factors that shapes how different audiences receive his work.
Whether Sorbo’s potential Brainerd shoot goes forward or more Minnesota screenings are scheduled, the actor’s continued activity demonstrates a pragmatic approach to late-career work: short, concentrated shoots in a segment of the industry that has proven audience support—and a willingness to bring that work, occasionally, back to his home state.
— Soren Halvorsen, WE NEWS
