Council Bluffs author’s memoir headed for feature film

Council Bluffs author Michelle Cowan’s account of grief, faith and forgiveness is being developed as a feature film, with Lou Ferrigno among four actors attached to the project. The film, “Whispers from Heaven,” is based on Cowan’s memoir, “Better, Not Bitter: A Journey from Heartache to Healing.” It is expected to be filmed in Iowa, with a release tentatively planned for the first quarter of 2028.

Cowan’s first husband, Joe, was killed by a drunken driver in Nebraska in 2009. The couple lived in Council Bluffs at the time, and Cowan was left to raise their teenage daughter. The film will draw from Cowan’s experience but will not follow the book in every detail. Cowan explained that the screenplay includes events and material that were not part of the memoir.

“It is based off my true story but doesn’t follow it entirely,” Cowan said. “In fact, there’s new areas that I didn’t put in the book that will be in the movie.” She added that she did not want the film to share the book’s title because the screen version would expand beyond the events included in the memoir.

Filmmaker Zach Koepp, an Okoboji native who has lived in Los Angeles for about 11 years, is directing the project. Koepp met Cowan at the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat about two years ago, when she gave him the screenplay. He recalled that he initially intended to support the project as an advocate but later decided to direct it after reading a revised script and recognizing a personal connection to its subject matter.

“I myself am in recovery,” Koepp said. “So, there’s an element to it that I’m very passionate about.” Cowan described that connection as an important part of the trust needed to place a deeply personal story in another person’s hands. “I trust Zach with my story,” she said.

The production has four actors attached, including Ferrigno, who became widely known for portraying the title character in the television series “The Incredible Hulk.” Koepp noted that Ferrigno will play a role that the filmmakers are not yet prepared to disclose. Brian Letscher, Brad Benedict and Jeremy Gimenez also have joined the cast, with Letscher set to play Cowan’s husband, Joe.

Ferrigno’s involvement carries added meaning for Cowan because Joe had a strong interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding. Cowan recalled that Joe’s brother was especially pleased when told Ferrigno would take part in the film. She explained that the casting decision provided another personal connection between Joe’s life and the film being developed from her story.

Cowan wrote the screenplay with help from mentors and writing professionals. She credited Iowa author Debra Landwehr Engle with guiding her through the process of writing her memoir and later connecting her with producer Margaret South. South produced the 1988 film “Beaches.” According to Cowan, South and David Kirkpatrick helped her learn how to adapt the story for the screen, while Sabrina Parra also assisted with the screenplay.

Koepp reported that the script remains in development, although the filmmakers have settled on its general direction and secured locations. The screenplay has been adjusted to reduce the number of locations and tell the story more effectively on screen. He noted that the filmmakers continue to return to the events that actually happened when deciding how to present important moments.

Cowan said her faith sustained her after her husband’s death and while she raised their daughter as a single parent. “Credit to the big man upstairs,” she said. “He has guided me through the loss, the aftermath.” The film’s title emerged during a brainstorming session with South and reflects the role Cowan’s faith played in her recovery.

Koepp emphasized that the central goal is to present several perspectives without losing sight of Cowan’s experience or the consequences of impaired driving. He said the project’s focus on recovery, forgiveness and loss has helped attract performers who connect with its purpose. The filmmakers will continue developing the screenplay and completing the cast as they work toward the planned 2028 release.