Carrie Underwood's big-screen debut will come this spring in a movie about Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost an arm in a shark attack.

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Co-starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and AnnaSophia Robb, "Soul Surfer" will be the first movie to go out under a new FilmDistrict deal with Sony Pictures.

Robb is to play Hamilton and Underwood a church youth leader, EW.com said.

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Shot on location in Hawaii, the film is set for release April 15 via TriStar Pictures with a marketing campaign managed by FilmDistrict.

The film was directed by Sean McNamara from a screenplay by McNamara, Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Deborah Bonann Schwartz, with additional writing by Ron Bass, Jen Smolka and Kara Holden.

It is based on Bethany Hamilton's memoir "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board." The book tells how Hamilton overcame all odds to become a champion again.

"My family and I are honored to be the subject of such an amazing film," Hamilton said in a statement Monday. "My hope is that the story continues to inspire people around the world to overcome the challenges that face them."

"The world needs a hero right now," added primary financier and executive producer David Tice. "When I met Bethany and her family, I felt compelled to share her extraordinary life on the big screen."