James Franco, Rob Lowe, and Jennifer Jason Leigh Star in Ben Shapiro’s Confession
James Franco, Rob Lowe, and Jennifer Jason Leigh lead the ensemble cast of Confession, an upcoming Soviet-era thriller written by Ben Shapiro and directed by Václav Marhoul. Set in 1938 Moscow during Joseph Stalin’s rule, the film follows a former literature professor imprisoned on suspicions of conspiring with a dissident priest as he faces an interrogation conducted by a brilliant and brutal former student.
Lowe and Franco Star in Lubyanka Prison Drama
The newly released trailer introduces a claustrophobic interrogation room inside the Lubyanka Prison, where Lowe’s character, Alexei, is detained. Franco plays Vladimir, the former student who serves as his interrogator. According to the official synopsis, the plot puts Alexei through a test of conscience as he confronts past sins before facing redemption and sacrificing himself to save others. The ensemble cast also features Nick Nolte, Brad Dourif, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Emile Hirsch, Dean Norris, and Richard Brake.
The Daily Wire developed the feature as part of the media company’s expanding film division. The project brings together several actors whose careers and public reputations have faced varying degrees of controversy. Franco largely fell out of favor after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct in 2018, later settling a lawsuit brought by former acting students in 2021 where he admitted to having sexual relationships with them. Leigh, who previously expressed opposition to George W. Bush and the religious right, became an outspoken supporter of Israel following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. She signed an open letter condemning director Jonathan Glazer for his Oscars speech criticizing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, aligning with positions held by Shapiro.
Confession Premieres in Warsaw Before November Theatrical Release
Confession is scheduled to hold its world premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival on October 15, 2026. Following the festival debut, the movie will hit 100 select theaters for a special screening event on November 11, 2026. It will become available to stream on The Daily Wire that exact same day.
The production marks another step in the platform’s strategy of attracting established Hollywood talent to its conservative imprint. Previous projects from the company’s film branch have included Pawn Shop, which featured Danny Trejo, and Run Hide Fight: Infidels, starring Jonathan Majors following his 2023 conviction for assault and harassment.
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