The Christian filmmakers are gearing up for a new feature, but may not direct it.
Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick, fresh off the success of Overcomer, are already in development on a new faith-based film, which is a break with their past practice of taking multi-year gaps between projects. And they anticipate starting production on this as-yet-unnamed movie this summer.
In an interview with Christian Headlines, Alex, who has directed all six of the Kendrick Brothers' pictures, says another precedent may be set as well: while he and Stephen will executive produce the movie, he might not be the director. Instead, that honor could fall to some up-and-coming director in the faith-based genre.
"We're also using this next one to give [an opportunity to] some of these young Christian filmmakers that are so talented – and we're trying to help mentor them."
Now, while Alex says they've "got to start passing the torch and investing in other filmmakers," this is not a step toward leaving moviemaking. He added that he and Stephen will continue to make pictures themselves: the brothers usually write the scripts together, then Stephen produces them and Alex directs and plays a leading role on screen.
This coming movie will feature yet another break from their usual approach of telling fictional tales. Alex says it is based on an inspirational true story. He would not, however, give more details, because he didn't "want to let the cat out of the bag."
Could Kirk Cameron have a starring role in the film? No word in the interview on that score, but as we reported several months ago, Cameron mentioned he had an unnamed project on the horizon for this year with the Kendrick Brothers; you may remember the Christian actor played the lead in their 2008 hit movie, Fireproof.
Is this one and the same project? Sure would be great to see them reunite this year, but we'll have to wait to find out. Christian Film Blog will follow developments and keep you up to date.