Kiefer Sutherland Is A Gun-Wielding Priest In New Crime Thriller Movie's First-Look Footage

Published Sep 5, 2026, 4:51 PM EDT

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Father Joe is a new crime thriller that made its way to the Venice International Film Festival, where it debuted on September 5, 2026. Ahead of its theatrical release, Deadline offers general audiences an exclusive sneak peek at Sutherland as a very unconventional priest. As the story progresses, he becomes involved in a violent battle against the criminals of New York City.

Check out the footage below:

The film also features Al Pacino as well as the daughter of actress Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson, Ever Anderson. According to the movie's official synopsis, Father Joe combines crime, faith, and redemption in the unusual setting of Manhattan’s dangerous underworld.

Sutherland plays the titular character whose mission extends far beyond traditional priest duties. He takes direct action against criminals in Manhattan. This forces him to fight against a powerful figure in the underbelly of New York.

At the same time, he has to protect a young girl (Anderson) who is in serious danger. The name of Anderson's character is currently unknown, at the time of this article's publication, to people who did not see Father Joe at the Venice Film Festival.

Father Joe is directed by Barthélémy Grossmann, and the screenplay was written by Luc Besson, who also serves as a producer on the film. Besson is a critically acclaimed figure in the entertainment industry, especially in French cinema. He has a long and very impressive career as a writer, director, and producer. He has also directed iconic films, such as The Fifth Element and Lucy.

Grossmann previously made his English-language movie debut with the thriller Disorder. The project was also produced by Besson, reuniting the two filmmakers for another film with a strong cast. Father Joe also stars Fred Melamed and Michael Lockerbie, alongside Sutherland, Anderson, and Pacino.

Although it debuted at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, there is currently no official theatrical release date for Father Joe at the time of this article's publication.

Birthdate December 21, 1966

Birthplace Paddington, London, England, UK