James Franco and Rob Lowe are set to grace the screens together in Ben Shapiro‘s latest movie. The trio collaborated on Confession, their psychological historical drama film that hits theaters today, November 11, 2026.
Filming on Confession began in Los Angeles in November 2025 and wrapped within a month, in December. The movie initially premiered at the Warsaw Film Festival on October 15, 2026. It will now have its one-night-only theatrical release, followed by its release on The Daily Wire’s streaming service the same day.
What to know about the story and cast of Confession
Directed by Václav Marhoul and written by Ben Shapiro, the story of Confession is set in Moscow in 1938, during the regime of Stalin. The historical-political drama focuses on Alexei, a disillusioned former literature professor, who is accused of conspiring with a dissident priest.
Following the allegations against him, Alexei is arrested and taken to the notorious Lubyanka Prison. There, he is brutally interrogated by Vladimir, a brilliant and ruthless interrogator who happens to be Alexei’s former student. In the prison, Alexei faces tremendous physical and psychological pressure to sign a false confession, confronting his past, his estranged family, and his faith while attempting to protect others.
The cast of the movie is spectacularly led by Rob Lowe as Alexei, the world-weary professor, and James Franco as Vladimir, his former student. They are joined by Jennifer Jason Leigh as Anya, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Sasha, Brad Dourif as Father Mikulski, Nick Nolte as the Jewish Inmate, Emile Hirsch as the Artist Inmate, and Dean Norris as the Prison Manager. Richard Brake and Colin Bates also star.
The movie has been distributed by The Daily Wire. David Guglielmo, Travis Mills, Dallas Sonnier, Sean Calvano, Lillian Campbell, Amanda Presmyk, and Shapiro all serve as producers on the film.
Confession has been released in theaters today for its single-night theatrical release.
