Octavia Spencer is in final negotiations to play God in Lionsgate’s adaptation The Shack, based on William Paul Young‘s 2007 novel. Lionsgate acquired the novel back in 2013, which has sold 10 million copies in the U.S. and 18 million worldwide, and has been translated into 39 languages. Production is scheduled to begin this spring.

The story centers on a man named Mackenzie Allen Phillips, whose youngest daughter Missy is abducted during a family vacation. The police find evidence in a nearby shack that suggest the young girl was murdered. Four years later, Mackenzie receives a note, supposedly written by God (Octavia Spencer), asking him to come back to The Shack. Against his better judgment, he does return to the shack, where he finds something that will change his life forever.

Stuart Hazeldine (Exam) is directing from an adapted screenplay by John Fusco (Forbidden Kingdom, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend). Gil Netter is producing through his Netter Productions company, along with Brad Cummings. The adaptation is said to be a major project for Lionsgate, so we should likely hear more casting details soon.

Octavia Spencer starred in Snowpiercer and Get on Up last year. She recently starred in the drama Black or White alongside Kevin Costner and she will next be seen in The Divergent Series: Insurgent and Fathers and Daughters. She also recently starred on the Fox drama series Red Band Society.

The Shack is in development and stars Octavia Spencer. The film is directed by Stuart Hazeldine.