Inspired by York County Trial, 'The Ledge' in Limited Release This Friday

Matthew Chapman is no stranger to emotionally charged issues. The author, director and screenplay writer has tackled tough subjects including religious extremism. But his new project, “The Ledge,” starring Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson and Terrence Howard, uncovers another side of the creator. 

“I’ve written a lot of thrillers for Hollywood, but none of them reflected much of who I am as a person,” Chapman said last week.

His screenplay credits include “Runaway Jury,” which starred Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, John Cusack, and Rachel Weisz, “Color of Night” starring Bruce Willis and “ Consenting Adults” starring Kevin Kline and Kevin Spacey. 

Chapman started crafting “The Ledge,” a philosophical thriller that surrounds a love triangle, after he spent time in Dover, York County, Pa. Chapman was in Dover following a 2005 court case brought on by parents who challenged a public school’s attempt to teach intelligent design as alternative to evolution in its biology curriculum.

Chapman, Charles Darwin’s great-great-grandson, wrote of the case in his book, "40 Days and 40 Nights – Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin and Other Oddities On Trial in Pennsylvania,” published by Harper/Collins.

He said he wrote “The Ledge” for himself, without a plan for it to be developed.

“I was really doing it for my own pleasure,” Chapman said. “One motivation … was the number of people I met in Pennsylvania who were fervent Christians.” 

The story features a “very flawed” atheist character, which Christians would likely describe as a good soul, Chapman said. 

The film is in limited release and will be shown in New York and Los Angeles on July 8, and can be viewed via the iTunes Store and online at Sundance Now.

If the movie is successful in those venues, it will likely be shown in other cities such as Philadelphia, Chapman said.

“It’s only when it gets out into the theaters in local communities … that it’s reviewed,” he said. 

The actors are “spectacular” in the film, he said.

“I love the cast I’ve got,” Chapman said, adding he hopes the movie will inspire its audience to accept people with different views.

“Be tolerant,” he said.

That message is one of the reasons Christopher Gorham, star of the USA Network series “Covert Affairs” and Henry on ABC's "Ugly Betty" appreciates “The Ledge,” he said on Monday. 

“I thought it was such a well-written script,” said Gorham. He said he’s “proud and grateful” to be part of "The Ledge."

“The ending … is just so powerful,” he said.

“The Ledge,” was nominated for Best U.S. Drama at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Liv Tyler ("The Lord of the Rings"), Christopher Gorham ("Covert Affairs"), Terrence Howard ("Iron Man"), Patrick Wilson ("Watchmen"), and Charlie Hunnam ("Sons Of Anarchy").

See more "Ledge" Talk

• Liv Tyler on Nudity

• Patrick Wilson on Emotions

• Matthew Chapman asks, "Who has the bigger closet ..."

• Terrence Howard and Chris Gorham at Sundance

• Charlie Hunnam and Terrence Howard on independent films

• Chapman on "The Ledge"