Young Washington, the Angel Studios historical epic directed by Jon Erwin, opens in theaters today, timed precisely to America's 250th anniversary. The film charts George Washington's formative years through the French and Indian War, with William Franklyn-Miller in the title role alongside Kelsey Grammer, Mary-Louise Parker, Andy Serkis, and Ben Kingsley. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 13.
The production makes notable use of artificial intelligence. According to Variety, Erwin employed five AI artists alongside an AI producer, with approximately 100 shots augmented using platforms including Luma, Amazon's Project Nara, and Magnific. For an independent theatrical at this scale, the approach signals a new benchmark in mid-budget prestige filmmaking.
Erwin told CBN News that Washington 'was not forged in success' but rather 'was forged in failure and hardship.' Angel Studios is also partnering with the U.S. Department of State to screen the film at American embassies worldwide as part of its release strategy.
Box Office Theory projects a domestic opening north of $23 million for the holiday frame, positioning the film as counterprogramming against Universal's Minions & Monsters and the ongoing run of Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 5. The studio is deploying its 'pay it forward' ticketing model, through which audiences purchase seats for strangers. It is the same mechanism that propelled Sound of Freedom to unlikely commercial heights three years prior.
Critics have been measured. The film holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 30 reviews, with Metacritic placing it at 52 out of 100.