Chris Pratt and Pope Leo XIV Descend to St. Peter's Tomb in Vatican Documentary
Chris Pratt is heading beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, and Pope Leo XIV meets him at the end of the journey.
The pair appear together in “Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins,” a documentary about the tomb of St. Peter at the Vatican, whose trailer was revealed exclusively by Variety on Oct. 16. The film launches from the Rome Film Festival on Friday, ahead of an international rollout in cinemas.
The title comes from a Greek inscription found near the burial ground. “Pétros Ení” means “Peter is here.” The release ties to a major church anniversary: Nov. 18 marks 400 years since the consecration of the present St. Peter’s.
Pratt acts as guide. He takes viewers below the Basilica floor to trace the history and archaeology of the site, from ancient Roman burial grounds to the vast church above. It is a physical descent, level by level, into two thousand years of building, burial and belief.
Pope Leo XIV arrives in the final scenes. He reflects on Peter, the apostle Catholics regard as the first pope, and on what his tomb beneath the Basilica means for the church. The film does not present the pope as narrator. His appearance closes the story.
Behind the camera, the documentary is directed by Paula Ortiz and written by Andrea Tornielli, according to Variety. It is produced by AF Films, led by Frank Ariza and Manu Vega, together with Vatican Media and La Fabbrica di San Pietro, the body responsible for the upkeep of the Basilica.
Festival audiences get the first look. A special preview screening is set for the Rome Film Festival on Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. CET, according to Vatican News.
What makes this stand out is the calendar. The wider theatrical rollout, the industry term for a planned cinema release across countries, is scheduled to start in February 2027, during the opening weeks of Lent, the six-week Christian season of reflection before Easter.
Distribution is already mapped by territory. Hallow Studios will handle the U.S. and Canada, together known in the industry as domestic. Bosco Films will release the film in Spain. Cinépolis +Que Cine, a distributor focused on alternative and event cinema, will release it in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
