The Iris Protocol (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

The Iris Protocol follows Iris Hale as she leaves the bunker where she has spent years believing the surface was dangerous. Outside, she discovers a disturbing reality tied to Michael Hale, the man who raised her, in this 24-minute science-fiction thriller drama.

The Iris Protocol is a 2026 science-fiction thriller drama written and directed by Joe Love. The 24-minute film centers on Iris Hale, a woman whose understanding of the world has been shaped by years spent inside a bunker.

When Iris finally ventures beyond that controlled environment, the reality she encounters challenges everything she has been taught. The story’s central mystery connects the bunker, the danger outside and Michael Hale, the man who raised her.

The Iris Protocol movie details

Story without spoilers

Iris has long believed that the surface is unsafe, a conviction reinforced by her life inside a bunker. When she leaves that shelter, she begins to uncover a reality more disturbing than expected. The discovery leads back to Michael Hale and raises questions about the version of the world Iris has been given.

The film’s setup places personal trust alongside science-fiction suspense. Iris must confront information that changes the meaning of her protected upbringing, while the surrounding mystery remains closely tied to the bunker’s rules and the people connected to it.

What to expect

The Iris Protocol combines science-fiction, thriller and drama elements within a compact 24-minute format. Its premise is built around confinement, a dangerous or altered outside world, and the unsettling possibility that Iris’s reality has been deliberately shaped by someone close to her.

The supplied details point to a contained story with a strong mystery at its center. The tagline, “REMAIN CALM, REMAIN INSIDE, REMAIN LOYAL,” reinforces the film’s emphasis on obedience, isolation and control without revealing how the story resolves.

Cast and creative team

Karma Meyer plays Iris Hale, with Toby Pardoe as Michael Hale. Liam Mcabe appears as Adam, while John Martin provides the voice of Radio. The supporting cast includes Mark Power as Head Scientist, Andy Durham as Scientist 1, Samuel Earthroll as Scientist 2, Eric Sanders as Scientist 3, and Mark Dodd and Jacob Dodd as Security Guards.

Joe Love wrote and directed The Iris Protocol.

• Karma Meyer as Iris Hale
• Toby Pardoe as Michael Hale
• Liam Mcabe as Adam
• John Martin as Radio (V.O)
• Mark Power as Head Scientist
• Andy Durham as Scientist 1
• Samuel Earthroll as Scientist 2
• Eric Sanders as Scientist 3
• Mark Dodd as Security Guard
• Jacob Dodd as Security Guard

Release and production context

The Iris Protocol is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of October 10, 2026. It has a runtime of 24 minutes and is in English. The production company is Southampton Solent University. The supplied details do not identify a country of production.

Production companies: Southampton Solent University

Reported production figures:
Budget $6,300

Movies Dock view

With its short runtime and bunker-based premise, The Iris Protocol sets up a focused science-fiction mystery about belief, protection and the consequences of leaving a controlled environment. Its most important questions concern what Iris has been told, why she was kept inside and how much of her reality has been constructed for her.

Film data:
TMDB