EXCLUSIVE: The hidden tomb of Saint Peter, located in the Vatican Necropolis, will be captured on camera for the first time in history as part of a new documentary dedicated to the discovery of the Apostle’s tomb, headlined by actor Chris Pratt.
The documentary is currently filming in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Necropolis, a burial ground underneath Vatican City. Vatican Media, the Fabbrica di San Pietro, a Catholic institution responsible for the conservation and maintenance of St. Peter’s Basilica, and Spain’s AF Films are producing the doc. The project is currently untitled.
Pratt will serve as the documentary’s onscreen guide, informing viewers of the history behind Saint Peter’s story. Spanish director Paula Ortiz will direct the project, which was written by Andrea Tornielli with the advice of Vatican expert Pietro Zande. The project will be launched in 2026, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the inauguration and dedication of the current St. Peter’s Basilica on November 18, 1626.
“It is an extraordinary honor to partner with Pope Leo and the Vatican on this project,” Pratt said in a statement. “St. Peter’s story is foundational to the Christian faith, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust and access granted to help bring his legacy to the screen.”
The history of the Basilica is intertwined with the life of Peter, the fisherman from Galilee to whom Jesus entrusted the leadership of the Catholic Church, who was martyred in Rome on Vatican Hill in 64 AD. The area of his burial became a center of devotion and worship from the Church’s earliest years, with many Christians wanting to be buried next to him.
The documentary synopsis reads: Step by step, in an exciting journey through time, through exclusive images never seen before, the viewer will be involved in an engaging journey that will lead them to discover the tomb of Peter, which Emperor Constantine wanted to preserve by leveling the Vatican Hill to build the first large Basilica in which the tomb area was incorporated.
Through historical evidence and archaeological discoveries, we will be guided to the identification of the place of burial of the Apostle in the Vatican Necropolis, officially announced in 1950 by Pius XII, the Pope who ten years earlier had wanted to begin excavations under the Basilica.
Subsequent research led Paul VI to announce in 1968 that Peter’s remains had been found. “The relics of Peter,” the Pontiff said at the time, “have been identified in a way that we can consider convincing… We have reason to believe that the few, but sacrosanct, mortal remains of the Prince of the Apostles have been found.”
Founded by Frank Ariza, AF Films is a Spanish-based production company. Their credits include films such as Sorry Baby, Fragmentos, and Above and Below, starring Antonio Banderas. In television, the company made Perdóname Señor and Mariachis.