An impending documentary about Christian mega-church Hillsong and its ubiquitous musical arm, Hillsong United, has been dropped from the release schedule of production house Warner Bros, it has been reported.
According to Variety, the planned flick, directed by Michael John Warren and titled Hillsong: Let Hope Rise, was due for release on Wednesday, 1 April (ahead of the all-important Easter weekend), a date it has apparently had booked since July last year.
Neither the studio nor film rights-holders Alcon Entertainment have issued a statement in response to the move.
Hillsong was founded in 1983 by Brian and Bobbie Houston, and is presently led by the couple's son, Joel. It has, in its lifetime, grown into a worldwide collective boasting 12 locations and weekly attendance rates somewhere in the vicinity of 100,000 people total.
It's not all been miracles and unlimited fish for Hillsong of late, though — Brian Houston made headlines last year after allegedly failing to report child sex abuse committed by his late father, Frank, which consequently led royal commission senior counsel to advise that he "should be referred to police for investigation" in late December. However, it should be noted that consequently no charges have been filed, and there is no official indication the issue influenced Warner Bros' decision or that it is in any way connected.
