A Taste of Loyalty is a historical short film exploring King Richard III’s first battle at Barnet in 1471- the moment an 18 year old nobleman steps into real bloodshed, impossible choices and the political brutality of the Wars of the Roses.

England is in civil war. King Edward IV has returned from exile to reclaim his crown. At his side is his youngest brother, Richard- armed, untested and loyal. Through the dawn fog lies their enemy: Richard’s former mentor, Warwick the Kingmaker. A man he once trusted. A man he saw as a father. A man he may now have to kill.

One battle. One decision.
And one his brother, Edward is carefully watching.

Filming has now completed. The project is currently in post-production, with editing and score development underway.

Our Vision

King Richard III has been remembered as either a hero or a villain- but rarely as a human being. This film challenges that simplified legacy, grounding his story in evidence, emotion and the very real pressures of medieval power.

We aim to show the man before the crown.
Before the accusations.
Before propaganda rewrote him.

Authentic to the Core

This film has been created with historians, not around them. Our team includes:

• Thomas Dennis- Writer, Director, playing Richard III

• Matthew Lewis- Historian, Author of Loyalty

• Re-enactors, arms & armour specialists

• True Edge fight team- choreographing brutal, intimate battle sequences

• Abigail Sproston- Costume Department influenced by 15th century craft

• Endorsed by Richard III Society

Every decision from armour construction to battle choreography, reflects research, expertise and deep respect for the era.

WHY THIS STORY MATTERS

We live in an age where reputations can be destroyed overnight.
Richard III’s legacy is one of history’s earliest examples.

This film invites audiences to question how power rewrites the past, and who gets to decide how someone is remembered.

The Road Ahead

A Taste of Loyalty is a proof-of-concept for the upcoming feature film Loyalty, based on acclaimed historian and author Matthew Lewis’s novel.

The short will premiere at Warwick Castle in March 2026, a full-circle moment in a place forever tied to the Yorkist legacy.

This is just the beginning as we aim to take A Taste of Loyalty to film festivals and bring it to full fledged production.