Principal Photography Begins in Mississippi on Feature Adaptation of Best-Selling Memoir 'Dear William'

GREENWOOD, Miss., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Principal photography will begin Sept. 8 in Mississippi on “Dear William,” a feature adaptation of the best-selling memoir of the same name by David D Magee. Written and directed by Andrew Hyatt (“Paul, Apostle of Christ,” “The Blind”), and produced by Magee, the film will shoot for approximately five weeks in Greenwood, Mississippi, with select scenes on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford.

“Dear William” tells the true story of one American family’s breaking and remaking. It follows the Magee family through addiction, grief and profound loss to healing, hope and renewed purpose.

The project recently received an $800,000 grant from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Opioid Settlement Fund, making the feature film part of a broader statewide prevention initiative. Through storytelling, education and community engagement, The Dear William Project seeks to help families navigate addiction, recovery and mental well-being.

“Like so many families, we never imagined addiction would become part of our story,” said Magee. “This film is about losing one another, finding our way back and discovering that healing is possible. We hope it helps other families believe the same is true for them.”

Based on the best-selling memoir Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss by Magee, the film stars Matt Passmore (“The Glades,” “Poker Face”), Gabriel Nagy (“Extra Geography”), Emily Rose (“Haven”) and Hudson Macready (“High Potential”). Hyatt most recently wrote and directed “The Blind,” chronicling the early life of Phil Robertson. His previous directing credits include “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” “Full of Grace” and “Sight.”

Principal photography will take place primarily in Greenwood, with additional filming in Oxford, including scenes on the University of Mississippi campus. Production is taking place under the Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program.

“This story has always belonged to Mississippi,” said Magee. “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.”

“Dear William” is produced by Magee, Cory Pyke and Eric Groth.

David D. Magee is a best-selling author, producer and nationally recognized speaker, and founder of The Magee Foundation. His award-winning memoir, Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss, was a Publishers Weekly national bestseller and a Best Book of the South. He is also author of the forthcoming Walk With Me: A Father and Son Find Their Way Together (May 2027). Magee established the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing and the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education at the University of Mississippi and works with schools and communities across the country using storytelling. He lives in Oxford, Mississippi.

SOURCE The Magee Foundation