Angel and Wonder Project Join Forces to Announce YOUNG WASHINGTON

YOUNG WASHINGTON, helmed by Jon Erwin is slated for a theatrical release July 4th weekend 2026, timed to the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

In an industry first, tickets are on sale one year in advance of theatrical release

Provo, UT—July 2, 2025

In a novel collaboration, Angel Studios and Wonder Project have announced they are partnering to release the upcoming film YOUNG WASHINGTON, set to debut in theaters nationwide on July 4th weekend, 2026. The film will be directed by Jon Erwin (Jesus Revolution, I Can Only Imagine, House of David), and will begin filming later this summer. In an industry first, tickets are available for purchase one year in advance of the release date via Angel’s revolutionary ticketing platform.

“Our shared commitment to inspirational, powerful storytelling made YOUNG WASHINGTON an easy project to partner on with Wonder," said Jordan Harmon, President of Angel.  “George Washington helped shape our nation and so many of the American values we hold dear. I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than by watching this adaptation of such a pivotal period in his young life.” 

YOUNG WASHINGTON chronicles the origins of America’s first president. After making a tremendous mistake that triggers the French and Indian War, an ambitious 22-year-old George Washington must face his failures and find the courage to become the leader that will forge a nation. 

“I’ve dreamed of telling the powerful origin story of George Washington for nearly a decade. It’s a story of a true pioneer, which makes it the perfect project to partner on with the pioneers at Angel and their world-class distribution network,” said director Jon Erwin. “YOUNG WASHINGTON isn’t just a film—it’s a celebration of the American spirit and the miracle of the forging of our nation.” 

“At Wonder, innovation is at the heart of everything we do—not only in how we tell courageous stories that restore faith in things worth believing in, but also in how we engage with and serve our audience,” said Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, CEO of Wonder Project. “We’re proud to partner with Angel Studios in offering tickets for YOUNG WASHINGTON a full year ahead of its release, giving families and communities across the country the opportunity to come together and experience this powerful celebration of America’s first founder.” 

Harmon continues, “There hasn’t been a film that I believe has done justice to George Washington’s legacy. This film will change that.”

Tickets are on sale via Angel’s proprietary ticketing platform, which allows users to change the date and time of their ticket after purchase. This unique, fan-friendly innovation fosters early engagement with fans and puts flexibility and freedom in the hands of the audience. Tickets went on sale Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025 at 11:00 am ET / 8:00 am PT.  

The movie will be produced by Chip Diggins alongside Erwin. Wonder is joined on the production side by 10 Ton Productions, led by Benton Crane, and 2521 Entertainment, led by Tyler Zacharia. Angel will distribute worldwide. 

More information, including casting and production details, will be announced in the upcoming months.

# # # 

About Wonder Project: Wonder Project’s mission is to entertain the world with courageous stories, inspiring hope and restoring faith in things worth believing in. Established by entertainment industry veterans Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten and Jon Erwin, the company produces premium theatrical films and series for the global faith and values audience. Its first project, House of David, is an epic period event series based on David, the biblical figure who eventually becomes the most renowned and celebrated king of Israel. The series premiered exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories and has generated more than 40 million viewers worldwide.  

Upcoming Wonder Project titles include Sarah’s Oil, releasing in theaters November 7, 2025 via Amazon MGM Studios; The Breadwinner in partnership with TriStar Pictures starring acclaimed stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze; It’s Not Like That, a new drama series with Amazon MGM Studios starring Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes; Young Washington, a feature film in partnership with Angel Studios about the origins of America’s first president; and Flyer, a narrative feature film in development about the Wright brothers. Learn more about Wonder Project at www.thewonderproject.com

About Angel: Angel is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 1,200,000 paying members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. Learn more at Angel.com

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed business combination transaction between Southport Acquisition Corporation (“Southport”) and Angel Studios, Southport filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (as it may be amended, the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 12, 2024, which includes a preliminary prospectus and joint proxy statement of Southport and Angel Studios, referred to as a joint proxy statement/prospectus. The Registration Statement has not yet become effective. When available, a final joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Southport and Angel Studios stockholders. Southport and Angel Studios will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Southport and Angel Studios (when available) through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The documents filed by Southport with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge upon written request to 8 Bolling Place, Greenwich, CT 06830. The documents filed by Angel Studios with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge on Angel Studios’ website at https://www.angel.com/legal/sec-filings or upon written request to 295 W Center Street, Provo, UT 84601.

Participants in Solicitation

Southport, Angel Studios and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Southport, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Southport’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024, under the headings “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance,” “Executive Compensation,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.” To the extent holdings of Southport common stock by the directors and executive officers of Southport have changed from the amounts of Southport common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Angel Studios, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Angel Studios’ amended Form 10, which was filed with the SEC on May 13, 2024, under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” “Directors and Executive Officers,” “Executive Compensation,” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.” To the extent holdings of Angel Studios common stock by the directors and executive officers of Angel Studios have changed from the amounts of Angel Studios common stock held by such persons as reflected therein, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of any of the documents referenced herein from Southport or Angel Studios using the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction between Angel Studios and Southport. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of the combined company’s securities, (ii) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed by Southport’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of Southport and Angel Studios, (iv) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction, (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Angel Studios’ business relationships, operating results, and business generally, (vii) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Angel Studios or diverts management’s attention from Angel Studios’ ongoing business operations and potential difficulties in Angel Studios employee retention as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed transaction, (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Angel Studios or against Southport related to the Merger Agreement or the proposed transaction, (ix) the ability to list the combined company’s securities on a national securities exchange in connection with the transaction, (x) the price of Southport’s securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Southport plans to operate or Angel Studios operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Southport’s or Angel Studios’ business, and changes in the combined capital structure, (xi) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (xii) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees, (xiii) the evolution of the markets in which Angel Studios competes, (xiv) the costs related to the proposed transaction, (xv) Angel Studios’ expectations regarding its market opportunities, (xvi) risks related to domestic and international political and macroeconomic uncertainty, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the war in the Middle East, and (xvii) the risk of downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive industry in which Angel Studios operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Southport’s and Angel Studios’ annual reports on Form 10-K and Form 10, respectively, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the Registration Statement on Form S-4, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and other documents filed by Southport and Angel Studios from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Angel Studios and Southport assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Angel Studios nor Southport gives any assurance that either Angel Studios or Southport, or the combined company, will achieve its expectations.