Pope Francis to make acting debut in family adventure movie Beyond the Sun

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The Pope is set to make his big screen debut, playing himself in a new movie from a major studio.

Beyond the Sun, from Ambi Pictures, is a ‘family adventure based on the Gospels’, according to Variety, with Pope Francis having apparently asked the filmmakers that it communicate Jesus’ message to children.

The Pope has been depicted on screen numerous times before by actors including John Goodman, Robbie Coltrane and Bob Hoskins, but never before by the actual pontiff himself.

It’s not an entirely surprising move from the notoriously progressive Pope, who has recently been putting out prog rock albums.

"Our excitement and gratitude toward His Holiness, Pope Francis participating in this film is beyond words,” said the film’s co-producer Andrea Iervolino. “This is not just a movie for us, it’s a message, and who better to have on your side to deliver an important societal and spiritual message than the Pope.”

“It is a great honor for Andrea and I to have the opportunity to work with His Holiness, Pope Francis, to spread the awareness of his message, through this film,” AMBI co-founder Lady Monika Bacardi added. “We will make a movie everyone involved with can be proud of. Not only will families from around globe enjoy this film and be entertained, but they will be moved.”

Ambi’s slate also includes a remake of Christopher Nolan’s Memento, a film from James Franco and a biopic on Lamborghini founder Ferruccio Lamborghini.