Set in England during the year 1215, the medieval action movie Ironclad tells an underdog story with a difference; as it’s not a sporting epic like The Fighter, a comedy like Dodgeball, or an emotional struggle against capitalist giants like Erin Brokovich; it chronicles the story of a few brave men, who dared to stand against a tyrannical king, with odds stacked so highly against them they were all but guaranteed a brutal death.
After having his power limited, and reputation rocked, by being forced to sign the Magna Carta (a document ensuring the freedom of his subjects), King John raised an army to help him reclaim control of the country, and once again exert his power; a plan that was working exceptionally well until his bloody rampage came to a halt just outside London (the obvious final stop on his quest for glory and revenge), where a small band of men holding Rochester Castle refused to bow to his will.
This pivotal (yet often overlooked) moment of British history is retold in Ironclad; as the siege of Rochester Castle is played out in all its ultra-violent glory; with a small group of men led by a stubborn and rebellious baron (played by The Bourne Supremacy’s Brian Cox), and inspired by a guilt ridden Templar Knight (portrayed by Rome’s James Purefoy), attempting to hold the line against seemingly insurmountable odds, and stop England falling back into the hands of a ruthless dictator.
Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version) stars as the bloodthirsty King John, while Jason Flemyng (the Lock, Stock star who will soon be seen in X-Men: First Class), Derek Jacobi (The King’s Speech), and Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean), make up some of the mercenaries, idealistic rebels, and inexperienced soldiers attempting to hold the castle, and protect it’s Lady (who’s being played by 127 Hours’ Kate Mara).
Currently holding the record for the largest independent production ever to have been filmed in Wales, Ironclad will be the third film from director Jonathan English (the Minotaur director who also co-wrote the script), and is due to get its U.K. release on March 4th, before being released in the U.S. this coming June.
