Ralph Fiennes Stars In Juicy Conspiracy Thriller Conclave
Some films just grab you with your premise alone, and a conspiracy thriller about electing the next pope starring Ralph Fiennes is certainly enough to get anyone’s attention. Conclave is set to arrive in cinemas later this year, and follows the Bond and Harry Potter star’s lead cardinal character who in the inner circles of the Vatican is tasked with finding a successor to the pope. However, this tricky process is made even harder when he discovers the now deceased former pope was hiding a secret from the world. Here’s all to know about what could be one of the best films of 2024.
What is Conclave about?
Based on the novel of the same name, the movie centres around the vote in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope following the death of the previous- it is “the world’s most secretive election”. Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence, who is given the unenviable task of trying to find the next supreme pontiff. It’s a momentous task, and despite the very closed off process, the entire Catholic and wider world is watching.
Alongside Fiennes in the cast are some heavy hitters: Stanley Tucci, who recently appeared with Fiennes in The King’s Man, who plays Cardinal Bellini, described in the book as a more liberal than other cardinals, John Lithgow (The Crown, The Old Man) is Cardinal Tremblay, and Isabella Rosellini (Blue Velvet, Julia) portrays Sister Agnes. Other cast members include Sergio Castellito (Mafia Inc.) Brian F. O’Byrne (Million Dollar Baby) and Lucian Msamati (Game of Thrones, See How They Run).
Production has been underway for some time, but we finally got our first trailer which pulls back a bit of mystery. It opens summing up the premise succinctly: “The pope is dead… the throne is vacant.” Lawerence immediately inquires about how the beloved pope died, and is told that despite the cause given of a heart attack, there are rumours and suspicions. As Lawerence steps up to the task, he finds things becoming more and more sinister in the halls of the Vatican. Watch the trailer below and see for yourself what the conspiracy is when Conclave releases on 29th November.
But even the halls of the Vatican aren’t immune to conspiracy and political moves, as the cardinals split into factions keen to pursue their ambitions. Lawrence is caught up in a web of conspiracy- and finds that the deceased Pope was hiding a secret from everyone else, and there’s a race against the clock to find out what it is and what it means. The previous Pope may have been beloved, but Lawerence fears that the secret could upend the entire church.
For more on the latest flicks, check out our august streaming guide.
