Angel Studios Confirms ‘1776’ Sequel to ‘Young Washington’ Following Strong Opening

Angel Studios is moving ahead with a sequel titled 1776 after the impressive debut of Young Washington in theaters.

Young Washington opened to $20.8 million, surpassing initial expectations of around $15 million. Directed by Jon Erwin, known for I Can Only Imagine, the film explores an early chapter in George Washington’s life, featuring William Franklyn-Miller in the lead role alongside notable actors such as Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker, and Kelsey Grammer.

The film’s success was particularly pronounced in regions of the U.S. beyond the major coastal cities. Reports indicate that audiences from the Mountain, Midwest, Southcentral, and Southern areas accounted for a significant portion of ticket sales, making up about 67 percent of the weekend total. Remarkably, this achievement was accomplished without a heavy reliance on premium large format screens, which are typically advantageous for major releases.

Interestingly, the highest-grossing theater was not located in Hollywood or New York, but rather The Megaplex 18 Thanksgiving Point in Utah, which alone generated approximately $111,000 for the film.

Audience feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive, with the film earning an A CinemaScore and an 81 percent “definite recommend” score from PostTrak. Notably, viewers aged 55 and older comprised about 47 percent of the audience, a significant demographic for a contemporary theatrical release.

Following this strong opening, Jon Erwin announced on social media that a sequel titled 1776 is already in the works. This announcement signifies Angel Studios’ commitment to building on the success of Young Washington and expanding the narrative into a broader series of historical films.

In a statement included in the Deadline report, Brandon Purdie, EVP of Theatrical at Angel Studios, expressed, “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.”

Jon Erwin also shared his thoughts on the film’s significance in the same report, stating, “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 success of Young Washington positions it among Angel Studios’ most successful live-action openings, second only to their animated film David, which debuted to $22 million last December. The company has been establishing a strong record with audience-driven releases, including Sound of Freedom, which became a significant box office hit in 2023.

With 1776 now in development, Angel Studios seems poised to continue its focus on historical and inspirational storytelling aimed at broad American audiences, particularly in regions where the film has performed exceptionally well.

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