Angel Studios, the audience-driven entertainment company, revealed on Wednesday that the company would public via a merger with blank check firm Southport Acquisition Corporation in a deal valued at $1.6 billion, in a move that is sure to raise curiosity within the industry.

Founded in 2013 by CEO Neal Harmon, Angel Studios is a values-oriented distribution company based out of Provo, Utah that offers content with themes of hope and light to mainstream audiences. The release of Sound of Freedom last year was a major hit for the studio, and its success was pivotal in further establishing the company as a force, and one to watch in the future. Sound of Freedom, which starred Jim Caviezel as real-life Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, raked in more than $250 million worldwide last year and ranked and was the 10th-highest-grossing movie domestically (with $184 million), just ahead of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.” While reviews were mixed, audiences were extremely positive, giving it an A+ CinemaScore.

The news to go public comes on the heels of Angel Studios setting a new fundraising benchmark, raising a staggering $20 million over an 11-day period through their latest Reg A+ offering, which allows everyday investors to become part of the Angel Guild, a community that directly influences which projects the studio develops and distributes.

The Angel Guild, which now boasts over 379,000 members, plays a crucial role in determining the studio’s slate of films and TV shows. By investing in Angel Studios, fans can directly support projects that resonate with their values and preferences.

“Audiences are frustrated by what the Hollywood gatekeepers choose to greenlight for theaters and streaming,” said Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios, expressing his excitement about the overwhelming response. “They feel most stories do not represent them. Now over 20,500 people have decided to take matters into their own hands by investing in Angel Studios. Their investments are helping us build the Angel Guild, a community of over 379,000 audience members from more than 150 countries who vote on which stories Angel should release next.”

The company generates revenue from the licensing of its film and television shows to streaming platforms, as well as the theatrical distribution of their films. Their recent success has demonstrated the growing enthusiasm for Angel Studios’ mission to empower audiences to shape the future of film and television.

Angel Studios also announced the release of their latest film, “Something to Stand For.” Narrated by Mike Rowe, the documentary explores the untold stories of extraordinary Americans who have shaped our nation’s history. The film has already garnered critical acclaim and is now available for streaming on the Angel app and Angel.com.

By the end of 2024, Angel Studios will release four more films: Sweetwater, The 1916 Project, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin, and Homestead, and are expected to release at least seven films and seven TV series in 2025.