EXCLUSIVE: After a strong reception on the fall film fest scene, Edward Berger’s Vatican thriller, Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes is going one week earlier via Focus Features on Oct. 25. The pic was previously dated on Nov. 1. Coming away from the fests, Conclave currently scored 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Not to mention, Conclave, will be going wide in 1,500 theaters in order to hook a broader audience access to the film on opening weekend as opposed to its earlier platform release plan. Conclave will be in about a third of the theaters than Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance that weekend, and will serve as the alternative to older skewing adults.
Conclave made its world premiere at Tellruide, followed by its International Premiere at TIFF. The pic is also scheduled to open the Mill Valley Film Festival on Oct. 3 and will celebrate its UK premiere at the London Film Festival on Oct. 10.
Peter Straughan wrote the script, adapted from the Robert Harris novel. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Merab Ninidze, Thomas Loibl with Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini also star. Producers are Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell, Michael A. Jackman, Robert Harris, Alice Dawson.
Conclave follows Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) who is tasked with running the covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.