Conclave Lands on Peacock: Ralph Fiennes Leads a Star-Studded, Controversial Papal Drama

Ralph Fiennes Shines in a Gripping Tale of Vatican Power Struggles

The papal conclave has always carried an air of secrecy and drama, but rarely has it been rendered with such intensity as in Conclave. The new release on Peacock isn’t just another religious drama; it’s a slick, high-stakes thriller, channeling the energy of a political power grab while poking at the moral seams of the Catholic world. Ralph Fiennes carries the movie as Cardinal Lawrence—a man haunted by loyalty, faith, and the specter of Church scandal.

Edward Berger sits in the director’s chair, orchestrating a world behind locked Vatican doors, where every whispered conversation packs as much drama as a legal thriller. The film leverages its massive budget with lush, candlelit sets and robes that don’t just look expensive—they actually feel like they could carry the weight of centuries of tradition. Even if you don’t know your theology from your thurible, Conclave quickly draws you into its maze of competing egos and buried secrets.

The cast list reads like a who’s-who of serious cinema. Alongside Fiennes, Stanley Tucci plays a cardinal with an agenda that’s never clear, while John Lithgow brings gravitas and a hint of unpredictability. Isabella Rossellini plays one of the film’s most quietly radical roles, surfacing the question: What place do women have in the Church’s halls of power? Their performances toe the line between subtlety and eruption, escalating the stakes without sliding into caricature.

A Story Steeped in Intrigue—and Controversy

At the center of the film is a classic whodunit tension, but this time, the “crime” is more about secrets and ambition than overt violence. The Cardinals in Conclave don’t just vote for a new Pope—they play a deadly game where rivalries, blackmail, and philosophical battles blur the line between piety and politics. The screenplay doesn’t shy away from tough topics either: corruption, the true cost of ambition, and the ongoing struggle over whether the Church will cling to old ways or push toward much-needed reform.

Ralph Fiennes leaves a lasting impression, and reviews have zeroed in on his ability to carry so much with just a look—waves of doubt and bitterness sweep across his face in near-silence. Critics are praising him for giving Cardinal Lawrence an edge that never feels forced. It doesn’t hurt that the dialogue is as sharp as any modern courtroom drama, loading each moment with both spiritual weight and gut-punch political realism.

Of course, not all critics are stone-faced admirers. Some have called out Conclave for being a bit too much—too many plot twists, too obvious about its own seriousness. The film’s drama can border on melodramatic, sometimes stretching credibility for the sake of another gasp. There’s chatter that a few big reveals are so over the top, they threaten to burst the moody Vatican bubble the filmmakers work so hard to build.

Still, that hasn’t stopped the Oscar buzz. The movie has been singled out for its lavish production design—think ancient corridors soaked in candlelight—as well as a haunting score that keeps you on edge. Berger’s direction knows when to let the tension simmer, and when to let it boil over, keeping viewers glued to every backroom deal and prayerful confession.

With its streaming release kicking up new debates on social media, Conclave isn’t content to just entertain. It prods audiences to think about who actually holds power in the Catholic Church, and how far they might go to keep it. No matter which side you land on, there’s no escaping the fact that Conclave has thrown open the doors of the Vatican—and a lot of people aren’t exactly thrilled about what they see inside.