The subject of a timely new Variety profile praising his versatility, British actor Dan Stevens is having a moment. The actor is currently competing with himself at the box office with two different films: MonsterVerse installment “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” for Warners and directing duo Radio Silence’s new vampire movie “Abigail” for Universal.
Stevens is already lining up his next genre project, and it’ll see him co-starring alongside Hollywood royalty, Al Pacino, in a horror film focused on two trouble priests. Titled “The Ritual,” the drama will see the pair play priests struggling with their faith in an exorcism-focused movie to be directed by David Midell (“The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain”). XYZ Films will handle the domestic release in 2025 after acquiring the worldwide rights to “The Ritual,” with international sales heading to the Cannes Film Market.
Loosely based on a true story, here is how XYZ describes “The Ritual” in their official announcement:
Based on a true story, ‘The Ritual’ follows two priests—one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino)—who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.
Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen will also take soles “The Ritual,” which has a script penned by Midell and Enrico Natale.
While a 2025 release date is expected, we likely won’t get a concrete date until XYZ figures out the international side of things that will get ironed out once they find partners to release the film in other markets.
Apart from his recent “Godzilla x Kong’ and ‘Abigail,’ appearances, Stevens recently lent his voice to the Oscar-winning animated film “The Boy & The Heron” by master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. He will be next seen alongside Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”) in Tilman Singer’s thriller “Cuckoo.” Some recent projects from Pacino include two seasons of the Amazon series “Hunters” and playing Aldo Gucci for Ridley Scott in his murder-for-hire drama, “House of Gucci.”