The highly anticipated exorcism horror film The Ritual, starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens as conflicted priests, has achieved widespread international sales, according to XYZ Films.
Directed by David Midell, The Ritual was co-written by Midell and Enrico Natale, with production credits going to Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch, and Natale. The cast also features Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen in supporting roles.
XYZ Films, a company that’s steadily expanding its distribution wing in addition to its sales operations, has slated the film for a U.S. theatrical release in 2025.
A Chilling True Story
The Ritual is based on the true story of Emma Schmidt, a woman whose possession led to one of the most notorious and well-documented exorcisms in American history. The film follows two priests—one grappling with a crisis of faith (played by Dan Stevens) and the other confronting a dark past (Al Pacino). The duo must work together through a series of intense and dangerous exorcisms to save a possessed young woman.
The portrayal promises to offer a raw and unsettling look into spiritual warfare, human frailty, and the struggle for redemption, with a particular focus on Schmidt’s real-life ordeal.
International Sales Surge
The Ritual has garnered strong interest from international distributors, with XYZ Films selling rights to most major territories. The sales include deals with Leonine for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Altitude for the U.K. and Ireland, and Umbrella for Australia and New Zealand. Other notable sales include:
- PremiereTV for Benelux
- KMBO for France
- TFG for Greece
- Plaion for Italy
- NOS for Portugal
- Inopia for Spain
- Pro Rom for Eastern Europe
- Volga for CIS Baltics
- Falcon for the Middle East
- Siyah Beyaz for Turkey
- IDC for Latin America
- PVR for India
- PT Prima for Indonesia
- Antenna for Malaysia
- Filmbridge for Mongolia
- Pioneer for the Philippines
- Shaw for Singapore
- JNC for South Korea and Vietnam
XYZ Films’ Growing Portfolio
XYZ Films continues to make waves in the international market, with a lineup of upcoming projects that are gaining attention. These include the 2024 TIFF Platform selection Daniela Forever, starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannó; the high-octane Full Throttle Mindset, featuring Josh Duhamel and Lukas Gage; and the sci-fi noir He Bled Neon, starring Joe Cole and Rita Ora.
Other projects include Kill Me with Allison Williams and Charlie Day; Free Fall with Zachary Levi, directed by Zoë Bell; and the Netflix-acquired Skywalkers: A Love Story, which made its debut at Sundance.
With its recent track record and high-profile releases, XYZ Films is solidifying its position as a powerhouse in the global entertainment industry, and The Ritual is shaping up to be another major milestone for the company.
Audiences can expect an intense, emotionally charged exploration of faith, redemption, and the supernatural when The Ritual hits theaters in 2025.
