First ‘Conclave’ Footage Brings the Sin to Sin City

Ryan Lattanzio
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Edward Berger’s last film, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” won four Academy Awards — including Best International Feature Film — for Netflix. The director’s new epic, “Conclave,” which is set up at Focus Features, may just best that tally.

Attendees at the 2024 CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas got a look at first footage from the film during the Universal Pictures and Focus Features presentation on Wednesday, April 10. A papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave” is no doubt an Oscar hopeful for Focus given its November 2024 release date. Having seen the trailer only reinforces the awards play. Give the devil its due: “Conclave” looks good.

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When the pope dies, “Conclave” scrambles to find God’s new messenger on Earth. The search turns into a holy war that is anything but holy. Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski described the film as a “Machiavellian thriller.” The footage was ominous and intense as the cardinals are sequestered and loyalties divided. Rosselini’s nun looks on all of the politicking with fear and terror, and so will you.

“There is one sin I have come to fear above all others,” Fiennes’ character says in the trailer. “If there was only certain and no doubt, there would be no mystery, and therefore no need for faith.”

Your faith will be tested in November.

“Conclave” is Swiss-Austrian director Berger’s first job in Hollywood after the wild success of “All Quiet on the Western Front” in 2022. Berger previously interned at the company that later became Focus Features, which acquired distribution rights to “Conclave” in November 2023. Peter Straughan wrote the script for “Conclave” based on Robert Harris’ novel.

The film, which shot at the glorious Cinecittà Studios in Italy last year, follows the secretive process of promoting a new Pope, led by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). Lawrence is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders gather from around the world for this high stakes contest, the most ambitious among them make their maneuvers and Lawrence uncovers a series of secrets that could test the boundaries of his faith and shake the foundations of the Church, per the official synopsis.

Also shown at the Universal/Focus CinemaCon presentation was a new look at Focus’ “Nosferatu,” a Dracula reimagining out from “The Witch” director Robert Eggers on Christmas Day.

“Conclave” will be released in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on November 1, 2024, with prior fall festival play a sure bet. The film will expand on November 8, 2024.

Additional reporting by Brian Welk

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