The filmmaking tandem behind such faith-based movies as War Room and Overcomer on Tuesday announced their next film, called simply The Forge.
Alex and Stephen Kendrick, the director-and-producer brother team, said the new film will spotlight the subjects of mentorship and discipleship and released in theaters in August 2024. Their brother, Shannon, is the director of operations for the Kendrick Brothers company.
The Forge will include characters from War Room, which climbed to No. 1 at the box office in 2015.
A teaser trailer was released online Wednesday. It debuted prior to the showings of Journey to Bethlehem last weekend.
“In our culture, so many people say they believe in God, but their walk with God is very lukewarm and half-hearted,” Stephen Kendrick said. “Discipleship means it's time to get on fire and all in, and this movie will push you, encourage you, inspire you to be all in for Christ.”
“It’s a forging process to be a disciple,” Alex Kendrick said.
The two men also explained the message behind the film’s unique title. Forges, Alex Kendrick, explained, “shape instruments, they shape weapons,” and it’s “all done by heat and pressure.”
“And when you think about your walk with God, sometimes you feel like, ‘Man, I feel like I'm in a forge.’ But what happens to that process, if you honor the Lord and He walks with you, He makes you stronger and more fruitful in your life,” Alex Kendrick added.
The Kendrick Brothers have an EXCITING Announcement! https://t.co/Uddz2EGDGT
— Kendrick Brothers (@KendrickBros) November 14, 2023
The film introduces new characters and new themes but also includes at least three actors from War Room: T.C. Stallings (who portrayed Tony Jordan), Karen Abercrombie (Miss Clara), and Priscilla C. Shirer (Elizabeth Jordan).
Newcomer Aspen Kennedy plays the lead role. The film follows the story of his character, Isaiah Wright, a 19-year-old who lives for video games and basketball and who has yet to learn to be a man. In the film, Isaiah must face the demons from his past.
“Jesus says, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.’ So in other words, this is a different level of following Jesus -- not just belief that He is the Son of God ... but also following Him with your life,” Alex Kendrick said. “You can't be Jesus’ disciple in a lukewarm status.”
The Forge is a movie from Affirm Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Provident Films. The Kendricks also are the filmmakers behind Courageous, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Lifemark.
Photo Courtesy: @Kendrick Brothers/Used with Permission.
Video Courtesy: The Forge Move via YouTube
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
