Joel David Smallbone and Ben Smallbone come together as co-directors for Drummer Boy (2026). Their vision brings a family story of forgiveness and freedom during the American Revolution. Rather than picturing generals and well-known battles, the film focuses on the common citizens caught up in the fight for American independence.
Joel Smallbone plays Jeremiah Clem while his brother Lucas Leach plays their brother Benjamin Clem. India Brown plays Emmaline who is enslaved and fighting for a better future. The film combines dramatic scenes with original music to share their message of forgiveness, family, and freedom. Drummer Boy was released in theaters in the United States on November 6, 2026, by Angel Studios.
What Is Drummer Boy About?
The American Revolutionary War broke out when the British colonies wanted to break free from British rule.
There are two brothers who are at the center of the story and because of the consequences of the war, end up on opposing sides. What begins as a fight for independence and freedom from British rule turns into a personal battle of family loyalty and political belief.
Another character who is focused on is a drummer boy who because of the war, experiences the loss and hardship of war.
Emmaline is enslaved and is one of the characters who represents the other half of the population who was involved in the American Revolution for independence but wasn’t given the same opportunities.
The members of the supporting cast help tell the story of the main characters and give insight into the experiences of common people during the American Revolutionary War.
Music connects the story’s emotional elements beyond the war.
Joel Smallbone and Lucas Leach play divided brothers.
Joel David Smallbone plays Jeremiah Clem, one of the brothers whose decisions provide the central conflict of the story.
As one-half of the popular Christian pop group for KING + COUNTRY, he’s known to most as a singer/songwriter.
He has previous acting credits in Journey to Bethlehem and Unsung Hero.
For this project, he takes on a double duty role of actor and filmmaker.
Lucas Leach plays Ben Clem, Jeremiah’s brother.
The relationship between Lucas and Joel (Jeremiah and Ben) provides the emotional backbone of the story.
As the political revolution continues, the brothers are faced with making the difficult decision of addressing their true feelings towards each other, which goes against their political beliefs.
When taking a side in a revolution, things can get very complicated and decisions can end up costing people everything.
The choices people make reflect the consequences they end up facing for supporting a change.
India Brown plays Emmaline, an enslaved woman who also has a strong will and desire for freedom, which propels the story forward.
Her presence also provides historical context for the unequal treatment of people of color during the revolutionary war, despite the fact that the colonists were fighting for their liberty.
Emmaline provides a character who helps show the barriers and divisive nature of trying to reconcile idealism with the true experiences of enslaved people.
Melora Hardin and Ioan Gruffudd also play supporting roles as Rachel and Nathaniel Clem respectively.
Charles Esten plays Lord Balfour and Iain Glen plays Major John Ambrose.
Beth Easdown portrays Lady Elizabeth Balfour.
Beverley Knight is also in the cast.
They all have film, TV, theater and music backgrounds.
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American theatrical release will be through Angel Studios.
Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone direct the film together. Both have backgrounds in filmmaking and music.
Ben Smallbone previously directed projects Priceless and Homestead.
Joel David Smallbone is a recording artist and performer with a long career.
The screenplay is by Richard Ramsey, who also did the script for Unsung Hero.
The film was produced by Red 56 and 2521 Entertainment.
The filmmakers use music to communicate scenes of war, emotional separation and uncertainty.
Rather than creating each scene of the drama with lengthy dialogue, the format allows hope, regret and determination to be communicated without speaking.
This distinguishes the production from the crowd of other conventional war dramas of this nature.
There’s an obvious interest by the filmmakers in dramatic stories of faith, forgiveness and the family unit.
For families divided between loyalty to a mother country and a more recently established nation, the movie suggests that people can often make their own decisions without causing irreparable divisions in the family.
The film expresses these notions with dramatic events and musical performances.
The themes of the movie include religious faith, sacrifice, forgiveness and perseverance.
Though the movie focuses on the birth of a new nation, the historical context requires acknowledging that the revolution did not mean immediate equality for all people living in the U.S. right away.
The personal accounts the film offers help illustrate this.
The film’s music unites the characters and provides the audience with an emotional experience with characters that have very different wartime experiences.
Ultimately, the film explores the challenges of reconciling the ideals of a new country with the more personal struggles of the individuals living in that country.
Drummer Boy had its U.S. release on November 6, 2026, with other international releases (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) scheduled by Angel Studios for later dates.
The film has a running time of approximately 129 minutes and a PG-13 rating for violence and some gory images.
Drummer Boy garnered an estimated $9.3 million for its opening weekend, indicating good initial audience interest.
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For those interested in historical musicals, Drummer Boy offers a story about family relations in the context of political upheaval. Its combination of music, drama, and elements of wartime storytelling touches on the struggle and plight of ordinary citizens both in and outside of the wars that define and shape a nation.
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