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Trailer, poster and photos introduce Russell Crowe as “THE POPE’S EXORCIST”

by Michael GingoldFebruary 22, 2023

He’s a real-life figure previously chronicled by William Friedkin.

Sony/Screen Gems releases THE POPE’S EXORCIST exclusively in theaters April 14. Julius Avery directed from a screenplay by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos, from a screen story by Michael Petroni and R. Dean McCreary & Chester Hastings, based on the books AN EXORCIST TELLS HIS STORY and AN EXORCIST: MORE STORIES by Father Gabriele Amorth—the subject of Friedkin’s 2018 documentary THE DEVIL AND FATHER AMORTH. Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto (DON’T BREATHE), Alex Essoe (DOCTOR SLEEP) and screen legend Franco Nero star; the synopsis: “Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican [Crowe], THE POPE’S EXORCIST follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.”

Michael Gingold

Michael Gingold (RUE MORGUE's Head Writer) has been covering the world of horror cinema for over three decades, and in addition to his work for RUE MORGUE, he has been a longtime writer and editor for FANGORIA magazine and its website. He has also written for BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH, SCREAM, IndieWire.com, TIME OUT, DELIRIUM, MOVIEMAKER and others. He is the author of the AD NAUSEAM books (1984 Publishing) and THE FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO MONSTER MOVIES (FAB Press), and he has contributed documentaries, featurettes and liner notes to numerous Blu-rays, including the award-winning feature-length doc TWISTED TALE: THE UNMAKING OF "SPOOKIES" (Vinegar Syndrome).

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