Australian filmmaker Ben Smallbone (“Priceless,” “Homestead”) is teaming with his bother Joel David Smallbone, best known as one half of Christian pop duo For King and Country (alongside another brother, Luke Smallbone), to direct a new feature for Angel Studios.
Being unveiled by Angel on Monday at CinemaCon as part of its upcoming slate, “Drummer Boy” is described by the company as an “action-musical from four-time Grammy-winning music group For King and Country which follows two brothers as they find themselves on opposite sides of the American Revolutionary War.”
The Smallbone brothers will direct from a screenplay by Richard L. Ramsey. Joel David Smallbone, who outside his music career has starred in “Priceless,” “Journey to Bethlehem,” and 2024 American Christian drama “Unsung Hero” (which he also directed), also leads the cast of “Drummer Boy” alongside Lucas Leach, and Beth Easdown. Additional names are to be announced.
“Eight years in the making. A nation built on 250 years of independence. A Christmas story that began over 2,000 years ago,” said Ben and Joel David Smallbone. “This is the fabric of a film created by brothers, about brothers, and we’re humbled beyond words to bring it to life.”
Alongside “Drummer Boy,” which Variety understands that will being shooting in Ireland later this month, Angel is set to bring several upcoming releases to the stage in its CinemaCon presentation. Among them are the Andy Serkis-directed “Animal Farm” animation, being released May 1, and featuring a starry voice cast that includes Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, Glenn Close, Gaten Mattazaro, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, Kieran Culkin, Steve Buscemi, Laverne Cox, and Iman Vellani.
Then there’s the historical epic “Young Washington,” set for release July 3 and chronicling the story of George Washington before the American Revolution. Directed by Jon Erwin the film stars Kelsey Grammer, Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Kingsley and William Franklyn-Miller, playing a young George Washington.
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