Vertical Acquires Father Joe, Plans 2027 Theatrical Run — SkimNews
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- Vertical acquired North American rights to Father Joe and plans a wide theatrical release in 2027, striking the deal with Brieuc Jonnet of EuropaCorp, Grégoire Melin of Kinology and CAA Media Finance on the filmmakers’ behalf.
- Father Joe had its world premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, ahead of its planned 2027 North American theatrical release.
- Luc Besson wrote and produced Father Joe, with Barthélémy Grossmann directing and Kiefer Sutherland, Ever Anderson, Michael Rispoli and Al Pacino in the cast.
- Kiefer Sutherland plays a Little Italy priest who secretly busts crime rings, forges unlikely alliances and crosses sacred lines to save lives as the criminal network deepens.
- Colin Wandersman returns as cinematographer with editor Lucas “Kub” Fabiani, production designer Hugues Tissandier and costume designer Corinne Bruand, all reuniting from Besson’s Dracula crew.
- Dracula, Besson’s 2025 film, took $13 million at the North American box office for Vertical—one of its best-ever theatrical runs—and $43 million globally.
- Peter Jarowey described Father Joe as “taut” and “adrenaline-fueled,” while director Barthélémy Grossmann said the cast’s energy drives the story from beginning to end.
Why it matters: For Vertical, Father Joe extends a theatrical relationship with Luc Besson that already delivered $13 million domestically and $43 million globally for the distributor with Dracula. The 2027 wide-release commitment pairs Besson’s return with Sutherland in the lead and four Dracula crew members, giving the acquisition direct creative continuity with that prior run.
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