XYZ Films Sets April 2025 Release of Al Pacino, Dan Stevens Exorcism Horror ‘The Ritual’

XYZ Films has set Easter weekend April 18th, 2025 for the US theatrical release of the exorcism horror film The Ritual, starring Academy Award-winner Al Pacino (The Godfather trilogy) and Dan Stevens (Abigail), and directed by David Midell. Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen round out the cast. The film was acquired by XYZ earlier this year just prior to Cannes, and has also sold out multiple, major international territories.  
 
Based on true events, The Ritual follows two priests – one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) – who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms.

The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.
 
The film was written by Midell and Enrico Natale, and produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale.
 
“David Midell’s grounded aesthetic is terrifying, authentic and leaves you incredibly uneasy that these events actually happened” say XYZ’s partners. XYZ has recently signed David Midell to its management division.

How does ‘The Ritual’ sound? Let us know in the comments below.

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