KING OF THE IRON WILL World Premieres at the HollyShorts Film Festival
Set in a brutal medieval kingdom and written entirely in Shakespearean language, the film follows King Baron as he finally confronts the defeated tyrant King Draven, the man responsible for the massacre that shaped his life. What unfolds is an intense battle of words that explores revenge, power, legacy, and the unsettling possibility that those who overthrow tyranny may ultimately become the very thing they sought to destroy.
Driven by emotionally charged performances and a richly cinematic visual style, KING OF THE IRON WILL examines timeless questions about leadership, justice, and the corrupting influence of power. While rooted in a medieval world, its exploration of authority, vengeance, and the cycle of oppression speaks directly to contemporary audiences, using Shakespearean language not as a barrier but as an accessible and immediate vehicle for deeply human storytelling.
The project was created by Liam James Collins, who wrote, produced, executive produced, personally financed and stars in the film. Coming from a working-class background in South East London with no family connections to the arts, Collins developed the project as a deeply personal artistic statement and an opportunity to create the kind of ambitious, performance-led cinema he has spent years pursuing as an actor.
Self-funding the production enabled him to realise an ambitious vision, filming inside two historic Scottish castles while undertaking extensive horse-riding and sword-fighting preparation for the role. Through its use of Shakespearean language, the film also challenges long-held assumptions about who classical storytelling belongs to, reflecting Collins’ belief that these stories should be accessible to audiences from every background.
The film is directed by Scott Vickers, the award-winning British filmmaker behind the internationally distributed feature Matriarch. A former actor whose credits include the BBC drama River City, Vickers has built a career combining emotionally truthful performances with visually striking filmmaking. Working closely with Collins throughout development and production, he helped shape the original concept into an intimate yet epic cinematic confrontation, creating a historical drama driven as much by silence and performance as by dialogue.
KING OF THE IRON WILL stars acclaimed British actor Charlie Creed-Miles as King Draven opposite Liam James Collins as King Baron. With a career spanning more than three decades, Creed-Miles is renowned for performances in Nil by Mouth, The Fifth Element, Wild Bill, Harry Brown, and Peaky Blinders, bringing remarkable gravitas and emotional complexity to the role of a fallen ruler confronting the consequences of his past. The supporting creative team includes cinematographer Robbie Jones, editor T.W. Leshner, art director Ellen De Faux, with period costumes supplied by the renowned Angels Costumes, and featuring music by Lady Maisery with Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith.
KING OF THE IRON WILL combines the scale and atmosphere of an epic historical drama with the intimacy of a powerful character study. Through its exploration of power, revenge, class, and the enduring relevance of Shakespearean storytelling, the film brings together Collins’ determination to create his own opportunities with Vickers’ established experience in performance-led filmmaking.
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