Vertical has landed North American rights to Father Joe, the Venice Film Festival action-thriller that pairs Kiefer Sutherland, Ever Anderson, Michael Rispoli and Al Pacino. The distributor is planning a wide theatrical release in 2027.
The deal was closed with Brieuc Jonnet of EuropaCorp, Grégoire Melin of Kinology and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. Luc Besson wrote and produced the film; Barthélémy Grossmann directed. It premiered at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival.
Why Vertical is the natural buyer
Vertical already has a commercial relationship with Besson’s production camp. His 2025 film Dracula took $13M at the North American box office through Vertical, which the company called one of its best theatrical runs, and ended with $43M globally. That makes the Father Joe pickup a continuation of a distribution bet that has already paid out, not a cold leap.
The film’s plot is built for a wide genre push: Sutherland plays a Manhattan priest running a one-man war against organised crime, turning the underworld into his congregation. That concept gives marketing teams a clear action-thriller hook plus a faith-and-redemption layer.
The package behind the pickup
- Stars: Kiefer Sutherland, Ever Anderson, Michael Rispoli and Oscar winner Al Pacino.
- Creative team: written and produced by Luc Besson, directed by Barthélémy Grossmann.
- Producers: LB Production, EuropaCorp, Besson and Sutherland; executive producer Romuald Drault.
- Track record: Besson’s Dracula earned $13M in North America and $43M globally for Vertical.
Grossmann said working with Besson and the cast “was a dream,” adding that their energy “jumps off the screen.” Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey framed the pickup as a reunion after Dracula, calling Father Joe “a taut, action-packed thriller.”
The commercial read
For buyers, the pickup points to a formula: convertible star names plus a director-producer pair with recent box-office proof plus a genre premise broad enough for multiple audience segments. If the 2027 release performs close to Dracula, Vertical extends a franchise-like relationship without needing a formal sequel. If it underperforms, the bet will look like relying too heavily on past success.
What it means for release planners
For media planners and entertainment marketers, the deal is a reminder that a distributor’s prior box-office data shapes the next acquisition. Vertical is not just buying a title; it is buying a proven creative and distribution partnership, then giving it the widest possible theatrical window before any streaming conversation begins.
The 2027 date also signals how long theatrical campaigns are now being lined up in advance, especially for star-led independent films that need to build awareness from a festival premiere.
Source: Deadline
