Angel Lands Family Series after Creators Reject Streamer’s Demand to Sexualize Teens
Angel Studios has unveiled an ambitious slate of new films and television series -- including one that was originally bound for a major streaming platform until pressure to sexualize the content led the creators to partner with Angel instead. Speaking at Angel's annual Illuminate event, the studio's leaders last week announced 10 upcoming theatrical movies for 2025 and 2026 along with 11 new streaming projects that will land on Angel's streaming platform.
Angel also celebrated reaching a milestone of 1 million paying Guild members -- a community that is responsible for greenlighting projects.
"This is just the beginning," Angel's Neal Harmon said.
Angel is best known for such box office hits as Sound of Freedom, which was the 10th-highest grossing film of 2023, and The King of Kings, the highest-grossing Bible animated film of all time.
It is scheduled to release four more films this year:
-- The Last Rodeo (May 23) -- A retired rodeo legend faces his past and steps back into the arena to save his family.
-- Sketch (Aug. 6) -- An action adventure comedy thriller that follows the story of a young girl whose eerie drawings come to life.
-- Truth and Treason (Oct. 17) -- A group of teens defy the Nazi regime through underground resistance.
-- Zero A.D. -- Mary flees King Herod to protect young Jesus. Angel's Jordan Harmon called it the studio's "most ambitious film yet." Alejandro Monteverde (Sound of Freedom) directed it.
Angel unveiled six box office movies for 2026: The Stranger's Case (January), Solo Mio (February), Young Washington (July 4, 2026), Old Man in the Dunes, Fablehaven, and The Fellowship (a story about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien).
Solo Mio stars Kevin James and tells the story of a man who flies his family to Italy for his wedding, only to be stood up at the altar.
"This movie's electric. During both screenings, the entire audience was in constant laughter and erupted into applause multiple times," Jordan Harmon said. "This film has all the magic of the classic rom coms from the 70s, 80s and 90s, without any of the garbage."
Angel's streaming platform has nearly a dozen originals launching in the coming months, including: Dry Bar Comedy specials with Rob Schneider and Patrick Warburton; Testament, Season 1 (June); The Mercy Ships (June); Miracle (July); A Week Away, the Series (August); Tuttle Twins, Season 4 (October); The Wingfeather Saga, Season 3 (November); Homestead, Season 1, Part 2 (December); The Wayfinders (December); The Riot and the Dance, Season 1, Part 2, (summer); and Beyond the Medals, Season 1 (2026).
The Wayfinders tells the story of three high schoolers who are mysteriously transported to a fantasy world, where they must battle for survival.
"This series was originally scheduled to be put on one of the major three streamers," Angel's Jeff Harmon said, "and they took the pilot episode to the streamer, and the streamer said, 'We love it. We're ready to go with one [change] -- your teenagers, the actors that play your teenagers, are too young. We want 20 to 30-year-olds so that we can put them in sexual situations.' And the filmmaker said, 'No, thank you. We're going to Angel.'"
Meanwhile, Jeff Harmon said the studio's 1 million Guild members are redefining the film industry by putting creative power in the hands of everyday viewers.
"In Hollywood, the standard is that you have a couple of dozen executives who are gatekeepers, and they make all of the decisions about most of the big films. These people are out of touch, and this gatekeeper system is not working, and so we're replacing the gatekeeper system with the Angel Guild."
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Angel Studios
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published May 12, 2025.
