Introducing The Wonder Project, a groundbreaking independent studio founded by veteran producer Jon Erwin and former Netflix and YouTube executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten. This exciting venture is dedicated to serving faith and values-oriented audiences, a demographic that has long been overlooked by the entertainment industry.
With Erwin as Chief Content Officer and Hoogstraten as CEO, The Wonder Project aims to create premium film and TV content that resonates with this underserved audience. Inspired by the success of recent titles like “The Chosen” and “The Sound of Freedom,” as well as classics such as “The Passion of the Christ” and “Heaven is for Real,” they are determined to captivate a global audience.
Impressively, The Wonder Project has raised over $75 million in seed and Series A funding from major players like Sovereign’s Capital, Lionsgate, Powerhouse Capital, United Talent Agency, and Jason Blum. Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the immensely popular faith-based series “The Chosen,” is a significant shareholder and will also serve as a special advisor and executive producer for the studio. Stay tuned for more exciting creator partnerships to be announced in the future.
Erwin, a pioneer in faith-based entertainment, has a proven track record with successful titles like “Jesus Revolution,” “American Underdog,” and “I Can Only Imagine.” Hoogstraten brings her expertise in building successful online and streaming strategies at global platforms, making her a valuable asset to the company.
“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. “We will achieve this by giving the creatives dedicated to this audience a level of freedom and resources they’ve never had before. The talent we have combined with the power of the stories we are developing is truly inspiring. I can’t wait for the audience to experience what we’re working on.”
Hoogstraten added, “I believe entertainment sits upstream from culture. 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. We are convinced that 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 on a global scale for an audience that seeks faith and values-driven entertainment. And we will give the audience a brand they can call their own.”
The Wonder Project has received support from Moelis & Company, LLC and NextGen Capital as placement agents for the Series A funding, with Eisner LLP serving as the company’s legal advisor. This is just the beginning of an incredible journey to revolutionize faith-based entertainment. Stay tuned for more updates from The Wonder Project.
