The Tony winner will portray Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and the first Pope from outside Europe since the 8th century.
- September 7, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Netflix has tapped Tony winner Jonathan Pryce to take on the role of Pope Francis in its upcoming feature film "The Pope". Deadline reports that the Welsh actor will join Anthony Hopkins, who will be portraying Pope Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict.
The casting somehow doesn't come as surprise. It is because ever since Pope Francis took his title in 2013, people have been predicting that the "Game of Thrones" alum will one day play the leader of the Roman Catholic Church given their uncanny resemblance.
"The Pope" chronicles the story of Pope Benedict's election, and his subsequent resignation from the papacy. That led Pope Francis (at that time Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Argentinian Cardinal) became the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas and the first Pope from outside Europe since the 8th century.
The movie is further described as examining "the relationship and opposing visions between two of the most powerful leaders in the Catholic Church, both of whom must address their own pasts and the demands of the modern world in order to move the church forward."
Pryce is no stranger to playing a role of a religion leader. On HBO's "Game of Thrones", the actor played High Sparrow, a leader of a fictional faith movement, who became more intoxicated with power than piety. As for Hopkins, he stars on "Westworld" as Dr. Robert Ford, a character which earns him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in Drama Series.
Screenwriter Anthony McCarten ("The Theory of Everything") is set to adapt his own stage play into a script for the movie. Fernando Meirelles ("City of God") will direct the movie, with Dan Lin, Jonathan Eirich and Tracey Seaward producing.
The filming of "The Pope" is expected to begin this November in Argentina.
