Sweet Trailer…'Ironclad'

Here we have the official trailer for a film we head about years ago it seems…no wait that was for Purefoy’s other Medeval film Solomon Kane. Anyway, set shots and trailers for Ironclad have been hitting recently but this seems to be one of the better ones…though, isn’t that the case for Brititsh trailers?:P

Sure looks like Medieval films are getting their resurgence, or perhaps renaissance is the better word. Now that Gladiators, Spartans and the like have nearly run their course, jolly old English era films are again looking to be a hot item. Last year we had Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood which was met with mostly mixed reviews (I kind of liked it). Now this year we have Nic Cage’s Season of the Witch (mostly a dud) and the Sean Bean film Black Death which looks promising. Now we can add Ironclad to the list of the 2011 epic battle flicks. Guess Crusade era films are always going to be hit or miss, but there seems to be no shortage of them.

From the official press release we received, here’s some info on the project:

Starring PAUL GIAMATTI, JAMES PUREFOY,  BRIAN COX,   DEREK JACOBI,   KATE MARA, JASON FLEMYNG, JAMIE FOREMAN and introducing ANEURIN BARNARD,  IRONCLAD recounts one of the most violent, pivotal moments in English medieval history – when a few good men fought against insurmountable odds to defend their country from a megalomaniac, blood-drunk king. Torn from the pages of history, the devastating battle for the castle of Rochester is a true story of honour, action and excitement. There will be blood.

The year is 1215. King John (Paul Giamatti) has been forced to sign the Magna Carta, a document that will ensure the freedom of men and form the basis of common law in England. Furious at having been forced to sign it, King John raises a vicious mercenary army and begins a rampage across the country to regain total power. But as the King’s army is on the brink of reaching London and taking back control of the country, one last castle stands between him and inevitable victory: Rochester.

Gathered together by Baron Albany (Brian Cox), a small band of rebel warriors gather inside Rochester intent on holding off King John until reinforcements arrive:  a Templar Knight (James Purefoy) whose soul is wracked with guilt over the atrocities he has committed during the crusades and his burgeoning feelings for Isabel (Kate Mara), the beautiful lady of the castle and lonely wife of the aging Reginald de Cornhill (Derek Jacobi);  battle-hardened mercenaries such as Beckett (Jason Flemying), who fight not for God and country, but for money and bloodlust; and young soldiers like Guy (Aneurin Barnard), who’ll taste blood and battle for the first time – and perhaps the last.

IRONCLAD marks the third feature as director of Jonathan English, from a script written by himself, Erick Kastel and Stephen McDool. The producers are Rick Benattar (SHOOT ‘EM UP, LXG), Andrew Curtis (LOST IN LA MANCHA, LIVING GODDESS) and Jonathan English, who have assembled a high-impact team including director of photography David Eggby (MAD MAX, PITCH BLACK), editor Peter Amundson (HELLBOY, GAMER), production designer Joseph C Nemec III (TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY, THE HILLS HAVE EYES) and costume designer Beatrix Aruna Pasztor (THE SECRET OF MOONACRE, THE BROTHERS BLOOM).

Cautious optimism aside, I like the look of it. How about you? Ironclad is almost upon us and is set for an across the pond release date of March 4th. No word yet on the US release but we’ll keep you posted!