RIO DE JANEIRO (BP) — “’Flywheel’ was my favorite,” fans often tell Stephen Kendrick of his and his brother Alex’s 2003 moviemaking debut, a small budget film that began the brothers’ journey of highlighting faith on the big screen.
The brothers’ long-held desire to return to Flywheel takes flight in “Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul,” a reimagined telling of the conversion of low-dealing used car salesman Jay Austin, this time in the persona of Brazilian Noah Silva. The new Flywheel is filmed in Rio de Janeiro in Portuguese, dubbed and subtitled in English.
Stephen, executive producer, was skeptical about the project because they didn’t know the language and laws, and they didn’t have access to resources. But early in the project after a meeting with pastors in Brazil, an area car dealership owner offered his lot as a complementary location for filming, Stephen said in a newly released video, “The Heart of Flywheel: Ignition of the Soul.”
“I was thinking this was just a good idea, not necessarily a God idea. So we came back and we had a prayer retreat, and the Lord said, ‘I’m in this. Go to Brazil,’” Stephen said. “God supplied with loaves and fish the people, the resources, the locations.”
The project was born of the realization that Christians in Brazil longed for more of the types of stories the Kendricks tell, evidenced by the popularity of “The Forge” when it opened in the top spot in the Brazilian market in 2024.
“We said we’ve always wanted to redo Flywheel and it would be beautiful in Rio de Janeiro,” said Alex, who writes and executive produces the film and also plays a supporting role.
Alex credits God for the production.
“The Lord is making this story in Brazil, with a Brazilian cast, a Brazilian crew,” Alex said. “The heart behind this movie is lordship, making Jesus the lord of your life. So He is the boss.”
Mario Bregieira plays the lead in the film, joined by his real-life wife Pérola Faria, who plays his wife on screen. Also starring in the project are Guilherme Tavares, Felipe Folgosi, Adriano Canindé and Elizeu Rodrigues.
The film evidences one of the brothers’ biggest steps of faith, Stephen said.
“Through a lot of prayers and unexpected Brazilian partnerships, we’ve seen a string of miracles take place that has resulted in a beautiful new movie that will bless international audiences,” Stephen said in a press release announcing the release of the featurette about the film. “Our hope is that it points people to the hope and freedom found in a relationship with Christ and inspires a new generation of filmmakers to utilize their gifts for God’s glory.”
The film opens exclusively in the U.S. on Oct. 16, after debuting in Brazil and Latin America a month earlier.
Watch the featurette exploring the heart of the film here.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)
