Deadline is exclusively reporting that Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson have signed up as the leads for the true story film Ordinary Angels from Kingdom Story Company, which is being distributed by Lionsgate.

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Set against the backdrop of the worst snowstorm in Kentucky history, the film is inspired by the true story of a struggling hairdresser who single-handedly rallies an entire community to help a widowed father save the life of his critically ill young daughter.

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Director Jon Gunn released a statement saying:

I’m thrilled to be working with Hilary and Alan. They are both actors with incredible range, who find humanity and vulnerability in every character they play. They are perfectly matched to bring this complex and inspirational true story to life.

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Kingdom Story Company’s Kevin Downes also released a statement saying:

Kingdom Story Company endeavours to bring inspiring true stories to life on screen. Ordinary Angels spotlights one family’s seemingly insurmountable struggles and the everyday people who helped them in remarkable ways. Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson bring to life this heroic example of how one person can change a family and how that changes a community and gives rise, quite literally, to life and to hope.

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Stampede Ventures’ Jon Berg also released a statement saying:

Greg Silverman and I are privileged to have worked with the incredibly talented Hilary Swank while at Warner Bros. and we’re thrilled to be reunited with her on Ordinary Angels. Stampede Ventures is committed to supporting rising stars and in Alan Ritchson we’ve got the complete package – a phenomenal breakout talent. We’re eager to start production with our amazing writer/director Jon Gunn and our partners at Lionsgate, Kingdom Story Company, and Dave Matthews’ Stolen Sky Productions.

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Director Jon Gunn wrote the most recent draft of the script with Jon Erwin, while Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig penned an earlier draft. Jon Berg and Kevin Downes will produce alongside Jon Erwin, Andrew Erwin, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee, Stolen Sky Productions’ Dave Matthews and Johnathan Dorfman, and Green Hummingbird Entertainment’s David Beal and Sarah Johnson. Chelsea Kujawa and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate, along with Business Affairs executive Phil Strina.