By John Corrado

The first trailer has been released for Edward Berger’s Conclave, the German filmmaker’s highly anticipated follow up to this Oscar-winning remake All Quiet on the Western Front. The film is adapted from a Robert Harris novel.

Berger’s latest, which stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini and has been on my radar for a little while now as a potential Oscar contender, is a papal thriller set in the Catholic Church around the selection of a new pope. The trailer opens with Lithgow saying the ominous words “the pope is dead, the throne is vacant,” and what follows is full of intrigue as Cardinals sequester themselves to vote on a replacement. Berger’s film looks dark and compelling, including dramatic cinematography by Stéphane Fontaine (Jackie), and juicy performances from the all-star ensemble cast.

Conclave is being released in theatres this November by Focus Features (Elevation Pictures in Canada), and I’m assuming it will show up at some of the fall festivals first. Trailer and official synopsis are below. Please comment your thoughts if you have watched the trailer!

“From director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.”