Drummer Boy is a 2026 historical musical drama set at the start of the American Revolutionary War. It was directed by brothers Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone, who is also one half of the music duo for KING + COUNTRY, and written by Richard L. Ramsey.
Joel plays Jeremiah Clem, and Lucas Leach plays his brother Benjamin. India Brown, Melora Hardin, Ioan Gruffudd, Iain Glen, Charles Esten and Beth Easdown are also in the cast. The story takes place in colonial America, but the crew filmed it in Ireland. If you like period stories, you can find more in our history section and across our Ireland collection.
As the fight for independence begins, a young drummer boy, an enslaved woman named Emmaline and a divided family find their lives pulled apart by war. Jeremiah and Benjamin Clem end up on opposite sides, and each must decide who he will become. Music gives the characters hope through battle and loss. At its heart, the film is about freedom, faith and forgiveness.
Drummer Boy opens in U.S. theaters on November 6, 2026. The film is rated PG-13.
The movie is distributed by Angel Studios and will release exclusively in theaters, according to the official Angel press release. No streaming date has been shared yet.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was Drummer Boy Filmed?
| Film Name | Drummer Boy |
|---|---|
| Genres | Historical Drama, Musical, War |
| Filming Locations | Harristown House (County Kildare) and Lough Tay (County Wicklow), Ireland |
| Filming Dates | April 2026 |
| Cinematography by | Cathal Watters |
| Release Date | November 6, 2026 |
The movie was shot in Ireland. IMDb lists April 2026 for the shoot, but Angel Studios has not shared official dates, so please treat the month as a report. Movie Insider says filming was complete by July 2026, when the film entered post-production. Actor Charles Esten told The Zebra that several scenes were filmed in Ireland “north of Dublin,” but he did not name a place. We could not find who handled the cinematography, and we will add it as soon as it is credited. For more shoots from across the continent, visit our Europe page.
📍Harristown House, County Kildare
Address: Harristown House, Harristown, Brannockstown, Co. Kildare, Ireland, as listed by Discover Ireland.
Harristown House stands on the banks of the River Liffey, about 2.5 miles northeast of Kilcullen Bridge, according to Wikipedia. The Georgian-style house was rebuilt after a fire in 1891, and the Beaumont family has owned it since 1946. The film’s production details say its exterior and hall interiors were used, and that a bridge near the property appears in a scene where it is blown up.
We could not find a second source for the bridge scene, so please treat it as a report. The estate has an old bridge over the Liffey, built in 1788, but we do not know if that is the one shown. The house has also been a set for Black ’47 and Quantico, which makes it a familiar face to film fans. Ireland has stood in for colonial America before, and our guide to Young Washington, another Revolutionary War story, shows how Wicklow and Louth were used.
Visiting: Harristown House runs as a language school and event venue, and it opens to the public on certain days. A half-hour guided tour is available, and group visits should be booked ahead. Please check the official Harristown House website before you go.
📍Lough Tay (Guinness Lake), County Wicklow
Where it is: Lough Tay, nicknamed Guinness Lake, sits in the Wicklow Mountains along the R759 Sally Gap road, between Djouce Mountain and Luggala. The listed coordinates are about 53°06′N, 6°16′W.
The film’s details say romantic and emotional scenes with Jeremiah and Emmaline were shot near the lake. The lake is known for its dark water and the pale sand shaped like a pint of Guinness. The Irish Road Trip notes that the lake sits inside a private estate owned by the Guinness family trust, so you cannot walk down to it. Public views are possible from the car parks along the R759, such as the Ballinastoe Woods and J.B. Malone car parks. Several viewpoints have steep drops, so take care. Lough Tay has starred in Vikings and Irish Wish, and the Netflix film Irish Wish also used other parts of County Wicklow.
📍Other Locations in Ireland
No other exact places have been named. Esten’s mention of scenes north of Dublin does not match Kildare or Wicklow, which lie south and west of the capital, so more locations may exist. We will update this section when Angel Studios or the filmmakers share more.
Drummer Boy Behind the Scenes
Angel Studios shares behind-the-scenes clips and previews on the official Drummer Boy page.
Charles Esten, who plays Lord Balfour, shared an on-set moment with Iain Glen and a photo captioned, “Hold your horses—Revolutionary style never looked so sharp.” He called the film’s “Same Blood” sequence, with marching soldiers, riders and battlefield action, a highlight, and said “the rhythm of the scene drives the rhythm of the song and vice versa.” He also said the Irish landscape reminded him of Alexandria, Virginia, where he grew up: “It was a little bit like being home.”
The directors say the movie was “created by brothers, about brothers.” Joel called the project “among the most rewarding work of my life,” and Ben said the forgiveness born at Christmas is the characters’ “only hope.” The film also features original songs by for KING + COUNTRY.
A short YouTube clip titled “Meet Iain Glen in Drummer Boy!” is also online, though we could not check which channel posted it.
We will add more cast and crew Instagram posts and set photos here as soon as they are shared.
Is There Any Trailer Available for Drummer Boy?
Yes, the official trailer is available. Angel Studios released it in October 2026, according to BroadwayWorld, after a first teaser in July 2026.
The trailer was released by Angel Studios. The film opens on November 6, 2026, and will be in theaters only.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Drummer Boy filmed?
A1: Drummer Boy was filmed in Ireland. Known places are Harristown House in County Kildare and Lough Tay in County Wicklow.
Q2: What is the address of Harristown House?
A2: Harristown House, Harristown, Brannockstown, Co. Kildare, Ireland. It sits on the River Liffey, close to Kilcullen.
Q3: Can I visit Lough Tay?
A3: You can see it from viewpoints on the R759 road, but the lake sits on private land and is closed to visitors.
Q4: When was Drummer Boy filmed?
A4: IMDb lists April 2026. Angel Studios has not shared official dates.
Q5: Is Drummer Boy a musical?
A5: Yes. It is a Revolutionary War musical with songs by for KING + COUNTRY.
Q6: When and where can I watch Drummer Boy?
A6: It opens exclusively in U.S. theaters on November 6, 2026.
Drummer Boy uses the old stone and green hills of Ireland to stand in for colonial America. A Georgian house on the Liffey and a mountain lake in Wicklow give the war story its quiet, personal moments. We will update this guide as soon as the crew shares more places and the cinematographer is credited. If you enjoy a good drama, you can find more in our movies section, and check back soon for more filming-location guides.
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