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The Brazilian Remake of Kendricks’ ‘Flywheel’ Opens in U.S.

The Brazilian Remake of Kendricks’ ‘Flywheel’ Opens in U.S.

Last updated on: October 17, 2026 at 10:05 pm by DeWayne Hamby

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The Brazilian Remake of Kendricks’ ‘Flywheel’ Opens in U.S. 2026-10-17T22:05:59-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

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“Flywheel,” the story that launched the Kendrick Brothers’ filmmaking career is getting a new life — this time, through a Brazilian cast and creative team. “Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul” reimagines the brothers’ first feature as a Portuguese-language production filmed on location in Rio de Janeiro. The film, directed by Alessandro Barros and written by Alex Kendrick, opens in U.S. theaters Oct. 16 with an English-language dub. It is scheduled to open in Brazil and Latin America in November.

“Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul” image courtesy of Sony AFFIRM

For Stephen Kendrick, returning to “Flywheel” meant revisiting a beginning that did not look much like a Hollywood success story.

The original film was made in 2003 on a $20,000 budget. Kendrick recalled that he was disappointed by its production quality and considered not releasing it. His brother encouraged him to let the film go forward.

“God has answered too many prayers. Let’s dedicate it to Him. Just let Him do whatever He wants to do,” Kendrick recalled his brother saying.

The film went on to sell more than 1.3 million DVDs. Its reception, Kendrick said, taught him that a story’s impact can matter more than its polish. “It was the story that impacted people the most, not the production quality. It was the story.”

That experience helped set the stage for later films, including “Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof,” “Courageous” and “War Room.” Kendrick said the team has continued to grow in its filmmaking craft while remaining mindful of why it makes movies.

“Sometimes God allows your dream to die so He can resurrect it His way,” he said. Kendrick described learning to pursue excellence without making recognition or status the goal. “God does want us pursuing excellence, yes, but not chasing our own glory, chasing awards and status, fame, whatever.”

The new film grew out of a 2024 trip to Brazil, where Kendrick and his brother led a weeklong filmmaking boot camp for 65 young Christian filmmakers. The visitors came hoping to learn how to make films for audiences in their own country. Kendrick said Christian films were rarely made there, despite Brazil’s population of more than 200 million.

The team began considering whether “Flywheel” could be remade in Brazil, with local artists telling the story in their own language and setting. Funding and distribution came together, and Sony agreed to release the project. Rather than dubbing an American production into Portuguese, the filmmakers made the movie in Portuguese and later dubbed it into English for U.S. audiences.

Kendrick said the Brazilian cast and crew brought enthusiasm and care to the production. He also recalled that people came to faith during filming. The experience, he said, reinforced the team’s belief that its work depends on more than technical skill. “Our greatest asset is the favor of God.”

The film centers on Noah Silva, a successful used-car salesman whose drive for success has strained the relationships closest to him. As his life begins to unravel, he faces the question of what integrity is worth. The story’s focus, Kendrick said, is “lordship” — what it means for Jesus to be Lord in every area of a person’s life.

Mario Bregieira, Pérola Faria, Guilherme Tavares, Felipe Folgosi, Adriano Canindé and Elizeu Rodrigues star in the Portuguese-language production, alongside Alex Kendrick. For the English-language release, voice performers include Brett Varvel, Masey McLain, Todd Terry and Lara Silva.

The adaptation is also part of a broader effort to carry the film’s themes beyond the theater. An eight-week interactive Bible study written by Alex and Stephen Kendrick released earlier this month. The study, also planned in Spanish, invites individuals and small groups to explore integrity, faith and redemption. A novel based on the story is another planned way for audiences to engage with its themes.

Kendrick said audiences in Orlando responded to both the English-dubbed version and the original Portuguese film. He recalled viewers appreciating that the movie had been made in Brazil, with its own culture and performances at the center. Though he said he enjoys the Portuguese version with subtitles, he hopes U.S. audiences will give the dubbed release a chance.

The goal, he said, is not simply to impress viewers with cinematic technique. “We’re hopeful to stir your heart to want to go deeper with the Lord in your relationship with Him.”

For Kendrick, the remake represents both a return to the story that started the brothers’ filmmaking journey and a chance for a new group of filmmakers to tell it from their own home ground. “We hope people will give it a shot,” he said.

“Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul” is currently in theaters from Sony AFFIRM Films.

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