Joel Smallbone Joins the Cast of "Young Washington"

He is the latest addition to this production from Jon Erwin's Wonder Project.

Joel Smallbone (left) and his brother Luke appear in concert as For King + Country in December, 2024. Image: For King + Country/from Instagram.

If you are a fan of contemporary Christian music, then you almost certainly know Joel Smallbone as one half the duo For King + Country (his brother Luke being the other half), among the biggest acts in the business. Having starred most recently in the 2024 faith-based hit Unsung Hero, the Australian-born entertainer is now taking another step in his journey as an actor in this biopic about America's first president, George Washington.

Jon Erwin, right, discusses a scene from his Prime Video series "House of David" with fellow filmmaker Jon Gun in 2024. Image: Wonder Project/Amazon MGM Studios.

It is called Young Washington and Christian filmmaker Jon Erwin, founder of the Wonder Project studio, will direct the movie. English actor William Franklyn-Miller is to star as the future leader in this picture, set during the French and Indian War in North America when Washington was still a loyal British subject.

Smallbone, who is a committed Believer, will play the part of William Fairfax, a friend and sometimes romantic rival of Washington. Joining them in the cast are Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley and Andy Serkis, portraying, respectively, Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie and General William Braddock.

Co-written by Erwin, production is planned to launch later this summer. Wonder Project will team up with Angel Studios for distribution of the film, currently scheduled to release in theaters in 2026 over the weekend of Independence Day, the 250th since America became a nation in 1776.

Interestingly, Angel Studios has already launched ticket sales on their website. Christian Film Blog will follow developments and bring you updates as we get them.