McKenzie and Wallace have boarded 'Sister Maria Goes to Rome'. Ben Sarikaya/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit, Joy) and Toby Wallace (The Bikeriders, Euphoria) are set to lead Frances O'Connor's sophomore film, Sister Maria Goes to Rome. Embankment has launched global pre-sales on the next project from O'Connor, whose critically acclaimed Emily with Emma Mackey debuted to rave reviews upon its 2022 release. When Sister Maria (McKenzie), a spirited young nun with an unshakeable faith, arrives in Rome on a quest to save her beloved village, she clashes with a jaded tour guide (Wallace) who's lost his way. "What starts as a delightful battle between wide-eyed idealism and world-weary cynicism blossoms into an unexpected friendship that proves ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they believe in each other," a plot synopsis reads. "Together, they discover that when good people fight for what's right - hope triumphs, hearts change and miracles can happen." Related Stories Movies Oscars: Tunisia Picks Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix-Backed 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' as Best International Feature Submission Business Rogers to Bundle Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ in Canada Filming will commence in spring 2026 across Lazio and Rome. "Rome has always been a city of possibility for me from my very first visit many years ago," says O'Connor. "I wanted to create an uplifting and fun story for everyone that was about choosing hope, centred around this young nun who was irrepressibly positive." She continued: "It has buoyed me immensely to create a world where ordinary people can triumph, and this Frank Capra quote inspired me: 'That's all I'm here for, really, to try to tell you that there's good in the world. And that it's wonderful.' I am so excited to bring this magical story to life next spring in Rome with Thomasin and Toby. Thomasin's work has a beautiful authenticity and emotional depth to it, while Toby is so instinctual and alive as an actor. I can't wait to see what they create together with these roles." Embankment Films partner Hugo Grumbar added: "Worldwide cinema audiences are craving warm-hearted, uplifting entertainment right now... Sister Maria will have people leaving the cinema with a skip in their step - her unadulterated positive view of the world is absolutely infectious. We're delighted to be working with Frances again on what promises to be a truly wonderful and inspiring movie." Naomi Despres (Kill The Messenger, Lizzie) and Piers Tempest (The Wife, Military Wives) produce for Desmar Films and Tempo Productions with Guglielmo Marchetti producing for Notorious Pictures SpA in Italy. Michèle Marshall executive produces for Desmar Films. Embankment handles worldwide sales, co-representing U.S. rights with WME Independent. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Venice Film Festival StudioCanal Acquires International Rights to Mike Figgis' 'Megalopolis' Fly-on-the-Wall Film 'Megadoc' Venice Film Festival 2025 'The Kidnapping of Arabella' Review: Chris Pine Speaks Italian in a Kooky Road Movie that Overstays Its Welcome Telluride Film Festival Telluride: 'Springsteen' and 'Hamnet' World Premieres, Baumbach, Hawke, Panahi and Ross Career Tributes Announced Venice Film Festival 2025 'Megadoc' Review: Francis Ford Coppola and Shia LaBeouf Steal the Show in Mike Figgis' Juicy 'Megalopolis' Production Exposé Venice Film Festival 2025 Emma Stone Reveals "Coping Mechanism" for Navigating Fame: Thinking of Herself as an Avatar Venice 2025 Oscars: Tunisia Picks Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix-Backed 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' as Best International Feature Submission Venice Film Festival StudioCanal Acquires International Rights to Mike Figgis' 'Megalopolis' Fly-on-the-Wall Film 'Megadoc' Venice Film Festival 2025 'The Kidnapping of Arabella' Review: Chris Pine Speaks Italian in a Kooky Road Movie that Overstays Its Welcome Telluride Film Festival Telluride: 'Springsteen' and 'Hamnet' World Premieres, Baumbach, Hawke, Panahi and Ross Career Tributes Announced Venice Film Festival 2025 'Megadoc' Review: Francis Ford Coppola and Shia LaBeouf Steal the Show in Mike Figgis' Juicy 'Megalopolis' Production Exposé Venice Film Festival 2025 Emma Stone Reveals "Coping Mechanism" for Navigating Fame: Thinking of Herself as an Avatar Venice 2025 Oscars: Tunisia Picks Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix-Backed 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' as Best International Feature Submission