Spielberg to Direct ‘The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara’

Steven Spielberg will direct religious drama The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara after he finishes work on Ready Player One (2017/18).

The movie will be about the true story of a Jewish boy from Bologna, Italy, who in 1858 was taken from his parents by police and subsequently raised a catholic, becoming a priest in the Augustinian order.

Bridge of Spies actor Mark Rylance will star as Pope Pius IX and the film will be released around awards season, indicating that the studio (Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment) has faith in Munich and Lincoln screenwriter Tony Kushner’s script.

The movie shall be based on the David Kertzer novel of the same name.