Movie filmed & set in Ky tells true story of hero dog, lands big Hollywood name

The story of a dog abandoned in a Kentucky Humane Society parking lot is making its way to Hollywood in an upcoming Kentucky-based film.

Directed and produced by Tané McClure, “Ethan Almighty” highlight’s the journey of Ethan, a mixed breed dog found in January 2021 by Jeff Callaway on the brink of freezing to death. Ethan’s journey became popular among Kentuckians and eventually garnered national attention.

No release date has been announced, but filming wrapped this week at a location in Hardin County. The movie was filmed at numerous locations across Kentucky, including in Louisville and Bardstown and at the Hardin County Courthouse in Elizabethtown.

Six-time Emmy winner and three-time Golden Globe winner Kelsey Grammer, best known for starring in the NBC sitcom “Frasier,” was announced this week to have joined the cast as the Kentucky governor.

Cast of ‘Evan Almighty’ has KY ties

Beyond the filming locations, the cast of “Ethan Almighty” boasts several ties to the Bluegrass.

Of the full cast, five hold Kentucky roots either as their birthplace or current home base, and three are from the origin place of the film’s story: Louisville.

• Vin Morreale Jr. (Senate President) is based in both Louisville and Los Angeles. In addition to acting, Morreale Jr. is a casting director at Vin Morreale Casting, the casting agency he started in 1988.
• Ryan Saviano (Daniel) was born and raised in Louisville, graduating from St. Xavier High School.
• James Tackett (Senator Grimmes) is currently based in Louisville and attended the University of Louisville earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts.
• Actor, musician and Georgetown College Professor Emeritus of Music, Sonny Burnette (Senator), hails from Georgetown.
• Ellie Bowlin (Irene), a recent Montgomery County graduate, was born and raised in Mt. Sterling.

Ethan’s story inspired legislation to protect dogs & cats

Shortly after finding Ethan, Callaway said, the opportunity to change the law in Kentucky came knocking, and in 2024, KRS 525.136, better known as Ethan’s Law, was passed.

The passing of the legislation increased the punishment for any person found to have tortured a dog or cat. The law defines torture as intentional infliction to extreme pain, injury or death including being locked in a cage, physically restrained, chained to restrict motion or injured to cause immobility so that the animal cannot save itself.

Ethan’s Law also changed torturing a dog or a cat from a first offense misdemeanor to a first offense Class D felony which, if convicted, can sentence a person one to five years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM.