EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (The Thursday Murder Club), BAFTA winner Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum) and Grammy winner Joel David Smallbone (Unsung Hero) are new additions to the cast of Young Washington, a recently announced presidential origin story from Wonder Project and Angel Studios.
Directed by Wonder Project’s Jon Erwin (Jesus Revolution, I Can Only Imagine), the film stars the previously announced William Franklyn-Miller as a young George Washington, chronicling the beginnings of America’s first president. After making a tremendous mistake that triggers the French and Indian War, an ambitious 22-year-old Washington must face his failures and find the courage to become the leader that will forge a nation.
Kingsley will play Robert Dinwiddie, the strong-willed Governor of Virginia who entrusts the young Washington with his first command. Serkis plays General Edward Braddock, an overconfident British officer who gives the defeated Washington another chance at military glory. Smallbone portrays the cunning William Fairfax, a friend and romantic rival to George, who moves effortlessly in the world of the British upper class to which Washington aspires.
Written by Jon Erwin and Tom Provost & Diederik Hoogstraten, the film is slated to enter production later this summer. Erwin will produce alongside Chip Diggins. Wonder is joined on the production side by 10 Ton Productions, led by Benton Crane, and 2521 Entertainment, led by Tyler Zacharia, with Angel set to distribute the film nationwide over Independence Day weekend 2026.
In an unorthodox move, Angel Studios made tickets available last month on its own platform — a year out from release — without a single frame of the film yet shot.
Known for turns in films like Gandhi and Schindler’s List, Kingsley has recently been seen starring in titles like The Killer’s Game and Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More. Upcoming, he has the Magenta Light Studios thriller Deep Water, Netflix’s anticipated film The Thursday Murder Club, and more. He is repped by CAA, Independent Talent Group, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.
Previously seen starring in the Lord of the Rings and Planet of the Apes franchises, Serkis is set to direct and reprise as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which Warner Bros releases on December 17, 2027. He is repped by CAA, Principal Entertainment LA, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
In addition to his Christian music group For King + Country, Smallbone is known for co-directing and starring in Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s faith-based drama Unsung Hero. He is repped by Smallbone Management.
