Edward Berger is coming home to Focus Features with his upcoming film “Conclave.”
The “All Quiet on the Western Front” Academy Award-winning director helms upcoming adaptation “Conclave” about the papal conclave that elects Popes for the Catholic Church. Berger previously interned at the company that later became Focus Features for his first job in Hollywood; Focus Features now has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to “Conclave.”
“Twenty-seven years ago, I landed my first job as an intern at the company that later became Focus. Ever since I left and embarked on the long path of making movies I have been wanting to return,” Berger said in a press statement. “To now work with [Focus Features Chairman] Peter Kujawski and his incredibly dedicated team feels like I have arrived at a home that I‘ve always missed. I am grateful and so cannot wait to share the movie with audiences in the U.S. as well as around the world at the hands of Focus and all our distribution partners.”
The Swiss director previously teased “Conclave” in an IndieWire interview before “All Quiet on the Western Front” won Best International Feature.
“Conclave” follows the secretive process of promoting a new Pope, led by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) in the Vatican. However, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy as the other cardinals forge factions and rivalries to serve their own ambitions. As ambitions, divisions, and scandals start to boil over and the political machinations inside the Vatican intensify, Lawrence realizes that the departed Pope had kept a secret from them that he must uncover before a new Pope is chosen, per the official synopsis.
Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Merab Ninidze, Sergio Castellitto, and Isabella Rossellini also star. Berger directs a script written by Peter Straughan as an adaptation of Robert Harris’ bestselling novel of the same name.
“Conclave” is produced by House Productions and FilmNation Entertainment. The film is produced by Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell for House Productions, Michael A. Jackman for FilmNation Entertainment, Robert Harris, and Alice Dawson, and was developed with the support of Access Entertainment.
Glen Basner, Alison Cohen, Milan Popelka, Ben Browning, Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen, Zoe Edwards, Harry Dixon, Paul Randle, Tomas Alfredson, Edward Berger, Ralph Fiennes, Peter Straughan, Robyn Slovo, Mario Gianani, and Lorenzo Gangarossa also executive produced.
FilmNation Entertainment and Indian Paintbrush – with Steven Rales serving as Executive Producer – co-financed the film.
Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski said, “Edward Berger is a devilishly talented filmmaker who made our collective hearts race by showing us what happens to our better angels in those Machiavellian halls of power. We cannot wait to bring audiences to the edge of their seats with him and our friends at House Productions, Indian Paintbrush, and FilmNation.”
The U.S. sale was handled by CAA Media Finance, FilmNation Entertainment, and Indian Paintbrush.
The Focus Features slate includes Alexander Payne’s critically acclaimed “The Holdovers,” Ethan Coen’s upcoming “Drive-Away Dolls,” and Zelda Williams’ directorial debut “Lisa Frankenstein,” written by Diablo Cody. Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” and Robert Eggers’ highly-anticipated “Nosferatu” are also in the works.
