ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — More than two decades after their filmmaking journey began in Albany, Stephen and Alex Kendrick are returning to where it all started with a new version of the movie that helped launch their careers.

The Kendrick brothers are back in the Good Life City for the premiere of a reimagined Flywheel, a faith-based film they originally made through their local church more than 20 years ago.

“Twenty-three years ago, our film journey began in this theater with a DVD player, with a little $20,000 movie shot at our local church,” Stephen Kendrick said. “And to see what God has done around the world has been mind-blowing.”

The original Flywheel was the brothers’ first film. Alex said returning to Albany with the story more than two decades later is especially meaningful.

“The very first movie we made, Flywheel, for the community — that, as Stephen said, started right here,” he said. “To be able to come 20 years later and shoot a better version of it as our tenth feature film is awesome.”

The new version was filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in Portuguese with a new cast and production.

The story centers around a dishonest used car salesman who attends a large church largely to be seen. His life begins to change after the church’s pastor buys a car from him and unknowingly pays too much.

Before leaving the dealership, the pastor offers to pray for the salesman — asking God to treat the man the same way the salesman treated him.

That moment forces the character to confront how he conducts his business and treats the people around him.

The brothers say the story ultimately focuses on integrity, faith, and becoming a better husband, father, and person.

“We want to honor God with our filmmaking,” Stephen said. “And we believe that movies don’t just have to be entertaining. They can also be life-changing.”

The brothers said the response to the original Flywheel helped encourage them to continue making faith-based films.

Now, after 23 years of filmmaking, they say bringing the story that started it all back to Albany feels like coming full circle.

“We want to thank Albany, because this is where we launched out of,” Stephen said. “We’ve been doing this 23 years now, and to be able to come full circle, and the story we started with, was just an honor.”

The new Flywheel can be viewed in its original Portuguese with English subtitles or with English dubbing.

The Kendricks say information about theaters, tickets, trailers, and behind-the-scenes content is available on the film’s official website.

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