Focus Features Lands U.S. Rights To Edward Berger’s Papal Thriller ‘Conclave’ Starring Ralph Fiennes And Stanley Tucci

More movies potentially for next year’s starved 2024 theatrical release calendar: Focus Features has taken U.S. distribution rights to Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front filmmaker Edward Berger’s papal thriller Conclave. The movie’s starry cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Merab Ninidze, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini.

The Peter Straughan-penned script based on Robert Harris’ bestselling novel centers on the secret papal conclave, which is electing a new Pope. After the death of a beloved Pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process inside the back corners of the Vatican. Lawrence quickly finds himself the center of a conspiracy, as the cardinals forge factions and rivalries to serve their own ambitions. As divisions and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope is chosen.

The House Productions and FilmNation Entertainment movie is produced by Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell for House, Michael A. Jackman for FilmNation, Robert Harris and Alice Dawson, and was developed with the support of Access Entertainment. FilmNation and Indian Paintbrush – with Steven Rales serving as EP – co-financed the film.

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