Fred Thompson: It’s Tough to Be a Conservative in Hollywood

Actor and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson is in a new movie, Persecuted, and it’s about an evangelist who goes on the run after he’s framed for murder because he’s getting in the way of some kind of religious reform. And, as the movie’s own plot summary explains, “Luther’s mission brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution that will threaten the entire Christian community in America.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Thompson acknowledges that there’s not a “terrible persecution” of Christians here like in other countries, but says, “You can’t have too much religious freedom, but you can certainly have too much governmental involvement in religion.”

He jokes that the corrupt Senate Majority Leader in the movie is at least nicer than Harry Reid and talks about how tough it can be for conservatives to get by in Hollywood.

It’s a tough business for everybody, but if you happen to run across a particular moviemaker who’s politically oriented and your views don’t coincide, then it could be an issue. There’s no question about that. It’s a tougher road to travel. Conservatives don’t go out of their way to advertise their political views because they know they’re the distinct minority. It’s not just actors, but also behind-the-camera folks.

You can check out the trailer for Persecuted here:

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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