Guns and Moses Actor Neal McDonough Says Biblical Love and Forgiveness Are Key to Healing a Divided World
Actor Neal McDonough says a biblical view of humanity and forgiveness holds the key to healing the world and spreading more love and light. McDonough portrays a small-town mayor in the upcoming film Guns & Moses (PG-13), which tells the story of a rabbi who fights back and searches for the truth after the Jewish community is violently attacked. It launches in theaters on July 18.
As the title suggests, McDonough (Captain America: The First Avenger, Homestead) said the film features its share of gunslinging but also challenges viewers to consider thoughtful questions like, "Why am I so against something else?" and "Why can't we just respect each other's beliefs?"
Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains) portrays the rabbi.
"If God created us all, and we are all God's children, that makes us all brothers and sisters -- no matter what your race, your creed, your religion, your beliefs are, how much money you have, how much money you don't have, we're all brothers and sisters," said McDonough, a devout Catholic. "And if we just start to root for each other a little bit more, wouldn't the world be a much better place?"
According to McDonough, the opening murder in Guns & Moses becomes a turning point, awakening the community to say: We should stop fighting.
"We should start enjoying each other, learning from each other, and I think that's the message for this film, and that's the message that is so important, especially right now, in this day and age where there's such a mess going on -- politically, spiritually, [no matter] what religion you are, what country you're from, all the different beliefs. Oh my gosh, it's exhausting," he said of the current cultural and political climate around the world.
"And if we stopped and thought for a second, all right, let's break bread with the people that we think we don't really like. Let's figure out why we're enemies. At the end of the day, breaking bread and sitting around with other people, we realize: Why are we enemies? 'I can't really remember why -- but it's been taught to me from generation to generation that we're supposed to dislike these other people.'
"I love films like this. You know, they talk about God, they talk about faith, they talk about, okay, what is your place here, and what are you supposed to do with each other? And I'm very proud to be part of a film like Guns & Moses."
In recent years, Neal McDonough has carved out a niche in faith-based and faith-adjacent films, with roles in The Shift, Homestead, and The Last Rodeo. Guns & Moses is his latest entry in that space.
"I've always had this very great relationship with God," he said. "And you know, years ago, when I went through some troubles, it was He that I leaned on, and it was He that I forgot about for a while when I was going through the troubles," he told Crosswalk Headlines. "So at that point, Ruve and I -- my wife -- decided we're going to start making films that give glory to Him."
Photo Credit: ©LB Entertainment/Intrinsic Value Films
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published July 11, 2025.
