Ioan Gruffudd's Revolutionary War Epic Drummer Boy Reveals New Footage

Inspirational pop duo For King + Country has already conquered the music industry, becoming one of the most influential forces in contemporary Christian music with six studio albums, massive tours and a haul of awards including four Grammys. But they are only just getting started in bringing their talents to film. Two years ago they found major success telling their family's story in the musical biopic Unsung Hero, which marked Joel David Smallbone's directorial debut and earned a solid $21.1 million at the box office on a $6 million budget. Now they are returning to theaters with a similarly personal film, with a little help from their filmmaker brother, Ben Smallbone.

Premiering this Friday, November 6, Drummer Boy sends the Smallbones back to the beginning of the American Revolution to tell a hopeful story unfolding amid the battle for independence. At the center are two brothers, Benjamin (Lucas Leach) and Jeremiah Clem (Joel David Smallbone), on opposite sides of the conflict: one believes in their father's promise of America, the other calls it a lie and vows to stand with king and country. Also caught in the crossfire is an enslaved woman who finds love with Benjamin as they seek freedom from a world that refuses to give it to them. The story was built to tie into the themes of For King + Country's music, focusing on love, family, forgiveness and sacrifice, and filled with hopeful, soaring songs along the way. To set the stage for such a tale, however, tragedy must come first.

Collider can exclusively share a sneak peek at Drummer Boy that teases the pivotal moment that charts a painful course for the Clem family. It takes place on a British vessel, where the children and their mother hide while their father, played by Ioan Gruffudd, commands his men during a French attack. It doesn't take long for the enemy to start boarding the ship, beginning a frantic battle of swords and gunfire that grows increasingly desperate. Things go from bad to worse when young Ben runs onto the deck to find his father, sending Jeremiah running to save him before he is hurt in the skirmish. Disaster soon strikes as the children witness their dad being gunned down and, in the chaos, the ship's mast collapses and is poised to crush Ben's leg before the shot cuts away.

'Drummer Boy' Was Inspired By the Smallbones' Own Familial Conflict

Rounding out the cast of the Smallbones' Revolutionary War epic are India Brown, Melora Hardin, Beth Easdown, Beverley Knight, Charles Esten and Iain Glen. Ben and Joel David Smallbone co-directed the feature from a script by Richard L. Ramsey, while Luke Smallbone joined them as producers alongside Chip Diggins, Kristy Choo and Justin Tolley. Joel and Ben had been developing Drummer Boy for years but ultimately held off on making it due to a rift in their own relationship. "Joel and I came to a personal and professional conflict to a point where we said, 'I don't know if we'll ever work together again,'" the latter told The Christian Post. "I was quoted as saying very loudly, 'I don't want to ever work with Joel Smallbone again,' and I think he probably would say the same thing on his side."

However, around a year ago, the two took a lesson from their own story and mended their relationship. "We sat in the coffee shop, and we hugged, and we cried together, and we apologized for words that were said," Ben continued. "And we decided in that moment that we're going to endeavor to forgive and reconcile and make this movie together." In the end, their own experiences became fuel for the story they told and, they believe, made it a much stronger, more real story overall. "What became the 2026 version is deeply, deeply personal because Joel and I literally lived and breathed unity and forgiveness and reconciliation in the process of making this film."

Drummer Boy arrives in theaters on November 6. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.