Birmingham-born filmmaker Jon Erwin, who co-wrote and co-directed a surprise hit this year with the movie “Jesus Revolution” starring Kelsey Grammer, has launched a new independent studio to make family-oriented films.

The new studio, The Wonder Project, was founded by Erwin and former Netflix and YouTube executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten.

They have raised more than $75 million in seed capital and Series A funding from Sovereign’s Capital, Lionsgate, Powerhouse Capital, United Talent Agency, and Jason Blum, among others, according to a press release this week from The Wonder Project.

The aim is to produce “high-quality, hopeful entertainment tailored for a substantial faith and values-oriented audience,” WP said in its release.

“The dream of The Wonder Project is to create a trusted brand that serves the faith and values audience globally with movies and TV shows they didn’t know were possible,” said Erwin, founder and chief content officer of The Wonder Project. “We will achieve this by giving the creatives dedicated to this audience, including myself, a level of freedom and resources they’ve never had before. This level of talent combined with the power of the stories we are developing is really inspiring. I can’t wait for the audience to experience the things we are working on.”

Among the creative partners are Dallas Jenkins, creator of “The Chosen,” a series based on the life of Jesus. Jenkins serves as a special advisor to the Wonder Project, as well as a large shareholder, and will be an executive producer on some of the content.

“I believe entertainment sits upstream from culture,” said Merryman Hoogstraten, who serves as CEO of the new venture. “And today, the world needs a way to find common ground again. Here at The Wonder Project, our goal is to flood the world with hope. I am convinced we can make a difference by telling stories that restore hope in things worth believing in – family, community, God, and America. We will do this at scale for a global audience that seeks faith and values-driven entertainment. And we will give the audience a brand they can call their own.”

The movie “Jesus Revolution” grossed more than $52 million at the U.S. box office in 2023.

Erwin and his brother Andy founded a film production company in 2019 called Kingdom Story Company. They moved from Birmingham to Nashville in July 2019 and now commute between Nashville and Los Angeles. “I Can Only Imagine,” made on a $7 million budget, grossed $83.4 million at the U.S. box office and launched them into the big-time of the movie business.

Kingdom Studios, in its first major release, followed the Erwin Brothers mold for success with another Christian music-theme movie, “I Still Believe.” They also produced “American Underdog,” a biopic about former NFL star quarterback Kurt Warner.

The Erwin Brothers’ other successful films include “Woodlawn,” a faith-based sports drama that grossed $14.3 million and the 2014 comedy “Mom’s Night Out,” which made $10.4 million at the box office.

All of the Erwin Brothers’ movies have been family-oriented and faith-affirming.

“There’s nothing quite like the power of an affinity audience that is underserved with programming options,” said Jason Blum, an investor for The Wonder Project. “I look forward to the many high-quality stories this talented team will curate and produce for the faith and values-based audience across the globe over the coming years.”

Investors in the Wonder Project believe there is more room for growth in the family and faith-friendly movie market.

“The Wonder Project is tapping into a massive, global need,” said Powerhouse Capital’s Managing Partner Ian Doody. “The faith and values audience is global, and the quality shows being developed will meet the long-standing and growing consumer demand,”. “We’ve been very impressed by the team at The WONDER Project, and we’re confident in their vision for creating best-in-class programming for this vast global audience.”

See also: Alabama-filmed ‘Jesus Revolution’ hits $50 million at box office

‘Jesus Revolution’ brings hippie youth revival history to life

Filmmaker Jon Erwin tells story of World War II hero grandfather in ‘Beyond Valor’

Birmingham brothers behind ‘I Can Only Imagine’ announce new Christian movie studio

Hollywood in Alabama? Recent films may launch Christian movie industry in Birmingham