Kendrick Brothers Reveal Next Film: Brazilian Remake Of Their Debut Classic
The Kendrick Brothers are back with a bold pivot: a full remake of their first film, Flywheel, now retold as Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul and filmed in Portuguese on location in Rio de Janeiro. This is not a small tribute or a dubbed re-release; it is a ground-up reimagining designed to feel native to Brazilian audiences. The move signals a new chapter for faith cinema that wants to speak directly to other cultures in their own voice.
The film is produced by Mark Miller, Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick, Daniel Friesen and Wiltonauar Moura, with executive producers including the Kendrick brothers, Jim McBride and Siqueira.
The brothers, who are both ordained ministers, are known for creating films that speak to society’s most pressing issues. The duo launched their filmmaking journey by founding Sherwood Pictures, an independent production company that served as a ministry for a church based out of Albany, Georgia.
Since then, they’ve released a slew of faith-based films, including “Overcomer,” “Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof” and “Courageous.”
“War Room,” filmed on a $3 million budget, was released by Sony in just over 1,500 theaters. It earned $27.9 million in just two weekends and eventually grossed $74 million worldwide.
The Kendricks previously shared with CP how they aren’t out to win Academy Awards with their films, but instead want to equip, uplift and challenge the Church to live out the calling set before them.
“Jesus said the Church is the salt of the Earth and the light of the world, and God will reach the world through a revived, surrendered, unified Church,” Alex Kendrick told CP.
A Story Reimagined
The story centers on Noah Silva, a slick used-car salesman whose ruthless drive to win at any cost unravels his business and his family life. Forced to face the fallout of his choices, Noah must rebuild integrity and reclaim the trust of his wife and son in a journey that blends sharp drama with redemptive hope. The emotional core mirrors the original Flywheel but is reshaped by Brazilian setting, rhythm, and relationships.
The cast features Mario Bregieira, Pérola Faria, Gui Tavares, Felipe Folgosi, Adriano Canindé, Elizeu Rodrigues, and Alex Kendrick, with Alessandro Barros directing and Alex Kendrick credited as the writer. Filmed entirely in Portuguese, the picture will open in Brazil and Latin America ahead of a U.S. release on Oct. 16 that will include English dubbing and subtitles. Production values are said to be higher across the board, reflecting a larger budget and a seasoned local crew.
A Strategic Mission
What makes this effort different is not just language but purpose: the Kendricks intend to reach Portuguese-speaking hearts with a story crafted inside that culture rather than translated into it. Their recent success with The Forge, which debuted at No. 1 in Brazil in 2024, showed there is appetite for faith-forward stories produced with local sensibilities and quality. The Forge’s unexpected box-office strength opened doors and conversations that led directly to this collaboration.
“The Brazilian filmmakers had all the talent and ingredients in the kitchen but wanted us to help them produce something inspirational in Brazil at the quality they saw in The Forge,” said Alex Kendrick. Local creative teams embraced the idea and moved fast, turning months of usual prep into a whirlwind of production activity. The partnership aimed to lift Brazilian faith cinema while keeping the Gospel front and center.
Affirm Films will handle the film’s release, signaling industry confidence in the project’s crossover potential. Producers explain that nearly all U.S. faith films are made in English, so filming in Portuguese is a deliberate disruption meant to multiply reach and cultural resonance. The strategy is simple and bold: bring the message in a voice people already know and trust.
“What usually takes months of preparation happened in days. It was amazing,” Stephen Kendrick said. “We did not know the language, local resources, or culture, but saw God help us do more in less time. We found out that Brazilian pastors had been praying for this for five years. The movie is better shot, acted, and scored than the original, and the storyline is just as powerful. I’m truly excited to see how audiences will respond to this new version in theaters this fall.”
This project reads like a modern Acts moment where doors are opening and collaborators from different places join to tell a story that points people to God. Making films that clearly proclaim biblical truth while respecting local culture is a practical form of mission in the digital age. Expect Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul to be both a cinematic experiment and a prayerful attempt to seed faith across Portuguese-speaking communities.