Conclave Author Reveals Ralph Fiennes Was Third Choice for Lead Role in Oscar-Nominated Film
According to an article in the Daily Mail, Ralph Fiennes was not the first choice to play the lead role in the Oscar-nominated film Conclave. The film, based on a novel by Robert Harris, tells the story of a conclave of cardinals as they gather to elect a new Pope.
In an interview at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival, Harris revealed that Hollywood legend Robert de Niro and Spanish star Javier Bardem were initially considered for the role. However, negotiations with both actors’ representatives broke down, paving the way for Fiennes to take on the part. As Harris noted, "For a long time, Robert De Niro was supposed to play the Fiennes role, but that fell through, and then Javier Bardem was supposed to do it."
The author also revealed that the character’s nationality was changed from Italian to English after Fiennes was cast. In Harris’s original 2016 novel, the dean of the council of cardinals was an Italian called Jacopo Baldassare Lomeli. However, Fiennes and director Edward Berger decided to change the character’s nationality, and he became Cardinal Thomas Lawrence, an Englishman.
Harris, whose other bestselling novels include Fatherland and Enigma, also discussed the film’s production and release. He revealed that film producers had been circling around his novel before he had finished writing it, but they decided to hold back the film’s release, which turned out to be fortuitous as it ended up in cinemas just before the real Vatican conclave to select Pope Francis’s successor.
The film, which also starred Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, was nominated for eight Academy Awards but secured only the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Peter Straughan’s script. Interestingly, two Oscar voters later told trade magazine Variety that they hadn’t backed Fiennes as they wrongly believed he had won the award before.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Harris noted that the film’s release timing was a stroke of genius, as it coincided with the real-life conclave and generated a lot of attention. The film’s success was also acknowledged by American Cardinal Robert Prevost, who watched the film just before the conclave voted him to become Pope, subsequently taking the name Leo XIV.
The Film’s Background
Conclave is a drama film directed by Edward Berger and based on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris. The film explores the inner workings of the Catholic Church as a conclave of cardinals gathers to elect a new Pope. The film features an all-star cast, including Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.
The Author’s Insights
Robert Harris, the author of the novel, provided insights into the film’s production and release. He noted that the film producers had been eager to adapt his novel into a film, but they decided to hold back the release to avoid competing with other films. Harris also discussed the casting process and how Ralph Fiennes was not the first choice for the lead role.
The Film’s Reception
The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Although it did not win any Oscars apart from the best adapted screenplay, the film’s success was acknowledged by the industry and audiences alike. The film’s release timing was also seen as a stroke of genius, as it coincided with the real-life conclave and generated a lot of attention.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Daily Mail reported that Ralph Fiennes was not the first choice to play the lead role in Conclave, but he ultimately delivered a critically acclaimed performance. The film’s success was also acknowledged by the industry and audiences alike, and it provided a unique perspective on the inner workings of the Catholic Church. As the Daily Mail reported, the film’s release timing was a stroke of genius, and it generated a lot of attention.
