Following the strong theatrical debut of Young Washington, filmmaker Jon Erwin has officially announced that a sequel, titled 1776, is already in development. The director, producer, and co-writer confirmed the news through a video shared on Instagram, revealing that the next chapter will continue George Washington’s journey during the American Revolution.
Young Washington exceeded early box office projections by opening with $20.8 million domestically against forecasts of around $15 million, making it the biggest live-action opening in Angel Studios’ history. Angel Studios previously found major success with the 2023 hit Sound of Freedom, which opened to $19.6 million over its first three days before reaching $41.6 million during the extended Independence Day holiday frame. Young Washington has now surpassed that opening benchmark, marking another significant theatrical milestone for the distributor.
In the announcement video, Erwin addressed the question audiences have been asking since the film’s release.
“I’m Jon, the creator of Young Washington, and I’m going to answer the number one question we’re getting about the movie right now,” Erwin said. “When people see it all over the nation, they love it. They cheer. We’ve shown it all over, and this one question keeps coming up: Are you going to make another movie?”The filmmaker then confirmed that work on the sequel is already underway. “The answer is yes. We are working on another one right now.” Erwin revealed that the team has already begun writing the sequel, describing it as another Revolutionary War epic centered on the pivotal year 1776. “If you think Young Washington is big, wait for 1776; it’s epic in every way. It’s another incredible chapter in this man’s life and legacy.”
Young Washington follows the early life of George Washington during the French and Indian War (1753–1755), exploring the formative experiences that shaped the future first President of the United States. William Franklyn-Miller portrays the young Washington alongside an ensemble cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker, and Kelsey Grammer.
The sequel’s title refers to one of the most significant years in American history, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the United States formally declared its independence from Great Britain. The story is expected to shift from Washington’s early military years to his leadership during the Revolutionary War, although the filmmakers have not yet confirmed whether William Franklyn-Miller will reprise the lead role.
The film’s success also underlines Angel Studios’ growing presence in the theatrical marketplace. While major Hollywood studios continue to rely heavily on franchise releases, Angel has steadily built an audience through faith-based, inspirational, and historical dramas. Young Washington performed particularly well across the Midwest, South Central, and Southern United States, which accounted for 67% of its opening weekend revenue, despite not playing on premium large-format screens.
One of the film’s strongest-performing locations was Megaplex 18 Thanksgiving Point in Utah, which generated more than $111,000 during the opening frame, outperforming many traditional high-grossing multiplexes in Los Angeles and New York. On July 4, Young Washington also ranked as the No. 2 film at the domestic box office with $7.6 million, finishing behind Minions & Monsters.
Brandon Purdie, Executive Vice President of Theatrical at Angel Studios, reflected on the film’s performance, saying:
“Seeing audiences across the country embrace Young Washington during our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration has been incredibly meaningful. This milestone is a testament to the power of great storytelling and to our outstanding partners at Wonder Project and 2521 Entertainment, who helped bring this remarkable film to life. We’re grateful to exhibitors nationwide, to every Angel Guild member, and to every moviegoer who chose to experience Young Washington together in theaters this holiday weekend.”
Erwin, who also serves as Chief Creative Officer of Wonder Project, emphasized the broader vision behind the film. “The American experiment is one of the greatest origin stories in history, and George Washington’s journey through failure, perseverance, and sacrifice forged the leader who would help shape a nation. To share that journey with audiences alongside Angel as our nation marks its 250th anniversary has been one of the greatest honors of my career. My hope is that this is the beginning of many extraordinary American stories told through film and television.”
The sequel, 1776, remains in the early stages of development. Additional details regarding its cast, storyline, production schedule, and release plans have yet to be announced by the filmmakers.
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