"Young Washington" (*Young Washington*) is a 2026 American historical war film directed by Jon Erwin, which recounts the early life and military career of the future first U.S. President, George Washington. The film's world premiere took place on June 13, 2026 at the Tribeca Festival, and on July 3, 2026 the film was released in wide theatrical distribution, timed to coincide with U.S. Independence Day.
The film immerses the viewer in an era when George Washington was not yet an icon on a banknote, but an ambitious, doubting young man who had to make a choice between duty, love, and his own freedom.
Cast
The film's star-studded ensemble includes both rising stars and recognized masters of cinema:
• William Franklyn-Miller — George Washington
• Ben Kingsley — Robert Dinwiddie
• Andy Serkis — Edward Braddock
* Kelsey Grammer — Thomas Fairfax
* Mary-Louise Parker — Mary Ball Washington (George's mother)
The support of Kingsley, Serkis, and Grammer gives the film weight and depth, while Mary-Louise Parker brings family warmth and an emotional anchor to the story.
William Franklyn-Miller: from the "most beautiful boy in the world" to George Washingtona
The film's main bet is — William Franklyn-Miller, a British-Australian actor and top model, born on March 25, 2004 in London. By the time of filming, he had turned 21, and the role of the 22-year-old Washington became his first truly mature, breakthrough performance.
His path to fame is unusual. William began his modeling career at four years old, and in 2016, when he was twelve, a Japanese schoolgirl posted his photo on Twitter. The snapshot went viral: the boy's accounts grew by hundreds of thousands of followers a day, and the press and fashion publications unofficially dubbed him the "most beautiful boy on the planet." With a height of 193 cm, an athletic build, and deep blue eyes, Franklyn-Miller possesses a rare screen presence.
However, behind the model looks lies a serious acting resume:
* Medici: Masters of Florence (2019) — young Giovanni de' Medici, the third season of the Netflix historical series;
* Arrow (2017) — young Joseph Wilson, the sixth season of the superhero series;
* "Four Kids and It" (2020) — a British family fantasy;
* "Dongji Rescue" / Dongji Rescue (2025) — British prisoner of war Thomas Newman;
* "Young Washington" (2026) — the lead role, which established him as a serious dramatic actor.
Technology and Production
When creating some of the opening scenes, as well as to simulate the actors being in icy water, the film's creators used generative artificial intelligence. This decision sparked debate in the industry, however, director Jon Erwin emphasized that AI was used exclusively as an auxiliary tool for visualizing difficult on-location conditions, and not to replace acting.
Distribution and Commercial Success
The film had a strong start at the US and Canadian box office, grossing in its opening weekend $19,4 million and exceeding analysts' initial expectations. For a historical war drama without a franchise background, this is a more than respectable result.
Thanks to its successful theatrical run, the director has already announced the development of a sequel titled "1776", which will be dedicated to Washington's participation in the American Revolution.
Reviews and Critical Reception
The film received moderately positive reviews from critics and an enthusiastic reaction from general audiences—a classic divide for historical cinema. Statistics on key aggregators are as follows:
- Rotten Tomatoes: 60% from critics versus 92% (Popcornmeter) from audiences.
- IMDb: The user rating has settled at a solid 7,1 out of 10.
- Metacritic: 49 out of 100 from the press (mixed reviews) and 6,0 out of 10 from audiences.
- Gaya 7,8 / 10 (the film is interesting to watch, historical, about making choices)
Critics praise the film for its sincerity and respect for the source material, but point to excessive artistic conservatism: in their opinion, the director opted for a safe, academic presentation where he could have taken risks. Audiences, however, received the film much more warmly, noting the emotional engagement and the charisma of the lead actor.
From Gaya the film received 7,8 out of 10. We really liked the main character: William Franklyn-Miller has made quite a name for himself and was cast perfectly for this role. He possesses both youthful insecurity and inner steel, as well as that very "Washingtonian" restraint, behind which one can glimpse a future leader.
The film itself is very interesting to watch. It is not just a historical chronicle—it is a picture about love and politics, about rules and choices, about fear and freedom, about strength and mercy. Washington here is not a monument, but a living person who makes mistakes, doubts, and learns to take responsibility for his decisions.
"Young Washington" is a case where audience enthusiasm is justified: we are presented with an honest, beautiful, and refreshingly old-fashioned film that reminds us that great people were once just young.
If you are interested in historical dramas with a strong cast, "Young Washington" deserves your attention. And, by all appearances, "1776" is still to come.
