Trailer 'Drummer Boy' (2026)

Two brothers separated by war. One on each side of the battlefield during the American Revolution. That family fracture is the starting point of 'Drummer Boy', an action musical set during the founding years of the United States, distributed by Angel Studios.

The film is co-directed by Ben Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, who are brothers in real life as well. Ben Smallbone's filmography includes titles such as 'Priceless' and 'Homestead', whilst Joel Smallbone is known internationally as one half of the Christian duo For King & Country, whose rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" has returned to the charts every Christmas season for several years. The project stems directly from that song. The screenplay was written by Richard Ramsey.

The trailer opens with a voice introducing the brother fighting "on the other side", identified as "that drummer boy". The line "I am a poor boy too" connects the conflict to the lyrics of the carol that inspired the film, and the trailer builds its tension around the broken loyalty between the two protagonists. There are scenes of battle, moments of moral doubt, and the warning that "that drum means war to these men more than you know". The clip ends with a promise of revenge, leaving the outcome of the brothers' confrontation unresolved.

Joel Smallbone leads the cast alongside Lucas Leach, India Brown, Melora Hardin, and Ioan Gruffudd. Further research confirms that Iain Glen and Charles Esten also appear in the film. The production is handled by Red 56 and 2521 Entertainment.

'Drummer Boy' is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on 6 November 2026, with wide distribution through Angel Studios. No UK release date has been confirmed.