“Conclave” Oscar Nominee Peter Straughan on Scripting a Devilishly Good Vatican Thriller

Conclave is great, gripping entertainment from the first shot to the last. It’s a drama, both honest and escapist, deftly shot, performed, and staged by artists at the top of their respective games. In the hands of Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Peter Straughan, Edward Berger’s contemplative film moves briskly within the Vatican walls. A movie that takes us into one of the most secretive rituals on Earth – about the search for a new pope – is remarkably light on its holy feet.

“Conclave’s” Oscar-Nominated Costume Designer Lisy Christl on the Fashion of Faith

Following his Oscar-winning WWI epic, All Quiet on the Western Front, Edward Berger’s latest, Conclave, focuses on a different kind of battle, dropping us into the Vatican in his twisty ecclesiastical thriller. After the death of the current Pontiff, the honorable and evenhanded Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is charged with convening one of the most secretive rituals in the world, the conclave, where over 100 cardinals from around the world are sequestered until they decide who amongst them will be the next leader of the Catholic Church.

“Conclave” Confidential: Production Designer Suzie Davies on Recreating One of the World’s Most Secretive Events

“Hell arrives tomorrow when we bring in the cardinals,” quips the fair-minded Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), the dean of the College of Cardinals, on the eve of the gathering to elect the new Pope. After the unexpected death of the current pontiff, it is Lawrence’s duty to oversee the titular Conclave, when over 100 cardinals from around the world gather to witness the cutthroat battle of succession steeped in tradition and secrecy.

Cardinal Sins: “Conclave” Star Isabella Rossellini and Director Edward Berger on Their Thrilling New Film

Hot off Audience Award wins at both the Mill Valley and Middleburg Film Festivals, the film Conclave enjoyed phenomenal word of mouth on its way into theaters on October 25. Based on Robert Harris’ bestselling 2016 thriller, Conclave goes behind the sequestered doors of the Vatican to show the inner workings of selecting a new pope. 

The story follows Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who must run the conclave after his beloved friend,

“Conclave” Trailer Reveals Edward Berger’s Star-Studded Vatican-Set Thriller

The official trailer for the critically acclaimed Conclave has arrived, revealing director Edward Berger’s adaptation of Robert Harris’s book. The film is centered on one of the most covert operations in the world, the selection of a new Pope, a highly secretive, ancient event that draws the world’s attention. The sensational cast includes Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence, the man who must preside over the conclave after the sudden death of the Pope.