Kendrick Brothers’ ‘Flywheel’ remake set for fall release as AFFIRM Films expands into Brazil

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Sony Pictures’ AFFIRM Films has announced an October nationwide theatrical release for “Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul,” a Brazilian remake of the Kendrick Brothers’ debut film that helped launch their rise in faith-based filmmaking.

The new film, which releases on Oct. 16, reimagines the original “Flywheel,” first released in 2003 by filmmakers Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick.

According to a press release, the project grew out of the Kendrick Brothers’ expanding influence in Brazil, particularly following the success of their 2024 film “The Forge,” which opened at No. 1 in the country and surpassed box-office expectations.

During promotional efforts for that release, the filmmakers said they connected with Brazilian leaders who expressed a desire for locally produced, faith-driven stories.

In response, AFFIRM Films partnered with the Kendricks to invest in Brazilian filmmakers, collaborating with executive producer Ygor Siqueira and production company 360WayUp. The team selected “Flywheel” as a “fan-favorite” story to reinterpret through a culturally specific lens.

Drawing on their work with the Christian Worldview Filmmaker’s Guild, which engages hundreds of emerging creatives annually, the Kendricks hosted a filmmaking bootcamp in Rio de Janeiro ahead of production. The initiative attracted filmmakers from across Brazil, many of whom were recruited to work on the film, and principal photography began in Rio in the fall of 2025.

“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,’” Alex Kendrick said in a statement.

Stephen Kendrick described the production timeline as unusually rapid, adding that local pastors had been praying for a project like this for years.

“What usually takes months of preparation happened in days,” he said in a statement provided to The Christian Post. “It was amazing. 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.”

Set in Rio de Janeiro, “Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul” follows Noah Silva, a used-car salesman whose ethically questionable approach to business begins to impact his personal life. After a series of setbacks, the character embarks on a journey to rebuild his integrity and restore relationships with his wife and son.

The film stars Mario Bregieira, Pérola Faria, Gui Tavares, Felipe Folgosi, Adriano Canindé and Elizeu Rodrigues, with Alex Kendrick also appearing on screen. The screenplay is written by Alex Kendrick and directed by Alessandro Barros.

The Portuguese-language film will be dubbed and subtitled in English for North American audiences. It is scheduled to debut in Brazil and Latin America in September, one month ahead of its U.S. release.

“It has been an honor to partner with the Kendricks over the past 20 years and witness firsthand the extraordinary worldwide impact of their films,” said Rich Peluso. “It’s exciting to see the story of Flywheel reimagined in a new and meaningful way.”

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.

“Before we tell the world, ‘You need to work on your marriage,’ we within the Church need to be aligning with Scripture and under the Lordship of Jesus. … When we surrender an aspect of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus, He takes this worldly mindset that is often twisted and broken and leads us to disarray and chaos and confusion, and He leads us back to His good, pleasing and perfect will in each area of our lives.”

“God has given us an opportunity through film to take the best messages in the world … we can help the world, we can be a blessing and be the salt in the light that Jesus has called us to,” Kendrick continued. “We know that our movies are not aimed to win Academy Awards. We're not interested in that. We want to go after the hearts, minds and lives of the viewers because love will desire God's best for them in every area of their lives.”