The Daily Wire has unveiled its most high-profile cinematic package to date with Confession, a historical psychological drama directed by acclaimed Czech auteur Václav Marhoul (The Painted Bird) and written by conservative media personality and site co-founder Ben Shapiro. The film features an ensemble of Academy Award, Emmy, and Golden Globe nominees led by Rob Lowe (The West Wing) and James Franco (127 Hours). The supporting cast includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Nick Nolte, Brad Dourif, Emile Hirsch, Richard Brake, and Dean Norris.
Set in Moscow during Stalin’s Great Purge in 1938, the single-location narrative follows Alexei (Lowe), a disillusioned former literature professor arrested and transferred to the notorious Lubyanka Prison under suspicion of conspiring with an anti-Soviet dissident priest. Once inside, Alexei is subjected to high-stakes psychological interrogation by Vladimir (Franco), an ideologically ruthless former student whom he once mentored.
Confession was shot entirely on 35mm film on soundstages at Santa Clarita Studios north of Los Angeles. Below the line, the production enlisted veteran cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr. (Die Hard with a Vengeance), production designer Vincent Reynaud, and Oscar-winning makeup and prosthetics artist Jeff Dawn (Terminator 2: Judgment Day). Producers on the project include Dallas Sonnier for Bonfire Legend, Travis Mills, Shapiro, and Sean Calvano, alongside David Guglielmo (who also handled casting), Amanda Presmyk, and Lillian Campbell.
The title is set to hold its world premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival on October 15, 2026, marking a notable international festival bow for the digital publisher. Following the premiere, Confession will roll out stateside for a one-night-only theatrical release across roughly 100 theaters on November 11, day-and-date with its exclusive streaming release on DailyWire+.
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