The Padre Pio movie starring Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf will release in the United States this year.
Dateline reported that entertainment company Gravitas Ventures obtained distribution rights for the film. The theatrical release is scheduled for June 2, 2023.
The movie follows the young life of St. Padre Pio, a Franciscan priest, mystic, and stigmatist. It takes place after World War I upon his entry into the Capuchin monastery in San Giovanni Rotondo.
The movie initially premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Sept. 2022.
Director Abel Ferrara told Dateline that “’Padre Pio’ is a film about the spiritual journey of the great saint in parallel with that of Shia Labeouf who portrays him.”
Brother Alexander Rodriguez, OFM Cap., portrayed Padre Pio’s spiritual companion in the film. He told ChurchPOP that the movie “shows why Padre Pio received the stigmata.”
“It is mostly an accurate representation of the stigmata and the political events after World War I in San Giovanni Rotondo.”
“It is not a film to like or dislike because of style or performance,” he added. “It is a presentation about Padre Pio’s life that was never written in biographies or shown as a film before. The film is from history of San Giovanni and the personal written letters from Padre Pio before he received the stigmata.”
Gravitas Ventures said they are “excited to bring the film to viewers across North America.”
“’Padre Pio’ will become a much discussed religious biopic for the unforeseeable future. Shia LaBeouf gives a show-stopping performance…”
Here’s a preview of the movie:
ChurchPOP reported in Aug. 2022 that LaBeouf converted to Catholicism while preparing for “Padre Pio”. He said signing onto the movie “felt miraculous” and that “Pio saved my life.”
“I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him – drawing me away from worldly desires,” he said.
LaBeouf also said the Traditional Latin Mass led him to the faith.
“I know what’s going on and I feel it deeply. It almost feels more powerful than when I feel every single word,” LaBeouf explained. “It takes me out of the realm of the intellectual, and it puts me squarely in the realm of the feeling, and the beauty thing that you talk about.”
“I was never an atheist. I was always an agnostic,” he added. “I always had a belief, but I never had a connection. Latin Mass gave me something where I felt connected, which took me out of belief and into connection.”
Brother Rodriguez, also a good friend of LaBeouf, said the actor has not been confirmed yet due to his filming schedule. His religious community hopes LaBeouf will receive the sacrament soon.