Charlotte Rampling is set to play a close confidante to Pope John Paul II in the Mark Ruffalo-led Vatican thriller “Santo Subito!” directed by France’s Bertrand Bonello (“The Beast,” “Saint Laurent”), which has started shooting in Rome.
In the previously announced film that explores the canonization process of Pope John Paul II, Rampling will play Polish-born American philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, who had a long intellectual friendship with the Polish pontiff with whom she exchanged intimate letters.
Ruffalo plays Father Joseph Murolo, an American-born priest summoned by the Vatican to serve as the “devil’s advocate” in the investigation of Pope John Paul II’s life and potential path to sainthood.
Other cast members now being revealed are: Poland’s Andrzej Chyra (“Leave No Traces”) as Pope John Paul II; Cezary Żak (“No Pressure”) as Stanisław Dziwisz, the pontiff’s personal secretary and close collaborator; Marisa Borini as Sofia Murolo, who is Joseph’s mother; France’s Adam Bessa (“Harka”) as Ali Agça, who attempted to assassinate the Pop; and Anton Lesser (“Wolf Hall”) as Father Mattew, who is Joseph’s friend.
Ten weeks of filming are planned across Italy (Rome and Matera) and Poland (Warsaw and Szczawnica).
Co-written by Thomas Bidegain, the Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter of “Emilia Perez,” “Santo Subito!” is set after the pontiff’s death on April 2, 2005. The thriller follows Murolo as he interviews confidantes and witnesses, navigating a “moral labyrinth” that ultimately puts his own faith to the test.
The film’s below-the-line roster features cinematographer Josée Deshaies (“The Beast,” “Saint Laurent”); art director Dimitri Capuani (“Io Capitano”); and costume designer Edoardo Russo (“Diamanti,” “The Hand of God”).
“Santo Subito!” Is by far my most ambitious project on every level,” Bonello said in a statement. “This fusion of geopolitics, mysticism, investigation and a reflection on faith feels more essential today than ever.”
Commented Ruffalo: “I’m excited to finally be shooting a film on my ancestral lands.” He added that “Santo Subito!” will comprise eight languages and that “Bertrand and Thomas Bidegain’s script really does wrestle with the big questions between faith and dogma.”
European studio Vuelta is backing the ambitious project, underscoring the company’s mission to build a track record in high-profile international movies following Alexander Payne’s “Somewhere Out There.” Vuelta’s Playtime is selling “Santo Subito!” internationally. PiperFilm will release it in Italy.
“Santo Subito!” is being produced by Mandarin & Compagnie (France) in co-production with Indiana Production (Italy); Madants (Poland) and Playtime, in association with PiperFilm.
Commented Vuelta-owned Indiana’s Daniel Campos Pavoncelli: “We are truly delighted to be partnering with Mandarin, Madants, and Playtime to bring this extraordinary story to life. ‘Santo Subito!’ is a powerful and deeply human tale, rooted in Italian culture — with all its beauty, contradictions and remarkable real-life events. This project reflects our ongoing commitment to collaborating with leading European directors and producers to develop and share stories with strong cultural and emotional resonance.”
Courtesy Indiana Production
