Christian discipleship takes center stage in the former pastor duo's latest film.
Due out late this summer, The Forge is bringing a host of actors together who have starred in past hits from Alex and Stephen Kendrick. The cast includes Priscilla Shirer, Karen Abercrombie, T.C. Stallings, Ken Bevel and Cameron Arnett, and it will reprise some of the characters from the brothers' 2015 hit, War Room, which starred the first three of those actors.
This new picture focuses on a recent high school graduate, played by newcomer Aspen Kennedy, who is unemployed, unmotivated and - as relates to his single mother played by Shirer - uncooperative. As you will see in the trailer below, an ultimatum from her serves as the catalyst for a job search on his part, one that brings him into contact with a successful local businessman.
Portrayed by Arnett, that character takes the boy under his wing and into "The Forge," an exclusive group of mature Christian men who are discipling young Believers. In a press release, Alex Kendrick makes clear that the film is meant to draw people closer to the Savior.
"We made this film to inspire, challenge and motivate viewers to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Our hope is that audiences around the world will recognize the pivotal role that Godly mentorship plays in shaping the next generation."
Alex and younger brother Stephen co-wrote the script for the movie, with the former serving as director and the latter as producer. As we reported last year during production, they shot the movie in their hometown of Albany, Georgia, which is where they produced their early pictures: Facing the Giants (2006), Fireproof (2008), and Courageous (2011). As with those productions, the brothers again paired up with Affirm Films - the faith-based division of Sony Pictures - for this latest endeavor.
The Forge is scheduled to release in theaters across North America on August, 23rd of this year. In the meantime, check out the trailer to get a better feel what you can expect from the movie.