White Smoke: A Heist Beneath the Vatican’s Veil

Production Details

Title: White Smoke

Format: Series

Production Begins: Development

Producer: Adam Ackland

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch

Synopsis: When ageing conman Nikola Camilleri is hired to rob the Vatican, he thinks it’s the perfect final score. Funded by the mysterious criminal mastermind Dante, Nikola assembles a team of old cons and new, and starts to lay the groundwork for the heist of a lifetime. The plan: break into both the Vatican Secret Archives and the Treasury of St Peter’s Basilica, and walk out with enough priceless items to keep them living in luxury forever. But as the pieces fall into place, Nikola suspects that the elusive Dante might have something more than theft on his mind. Then the Pope dies—suddenly, unexpectedly—and the Catholic world is plunged into mourning. Hundreds of Cardinals, their associated security and staff, and millions of tourists descend on the city-state as the Vatican enters conclave. Undeterred, the team push ahead, hoping to use the chaos to slip between the gaps. They impersonate clergy, steal ancient keys, and sneak through old smuggling tunnels that haven’t seen human tread since the Renaissance. But Nikola doesn’t know that Dante has no intention of letting anyone escape. That the heist is just the beginning. That the real target isn’t treasure—it’s the very institution of the Papacy itself.

Production Company

Company name: A24 UK
71 Queen Victoria Street
London, United Kingdom
EC4V 4BE Sunnymarch Productions
1st Floor
30 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QJ Email: info@a24films.com
info@sunnymarch.com
Phone: 646-568-6015 – 323-900-5300
+44 20 8953 1600

About The Vatican Heist

In this gripping series, aging conman Nikola Camilleri is drawn into an elaborate plot to rob the Vatican. Funded by the shadowy mastermind Dante, he assembles a team of seasoned criminals and neophytes to execute what seems to be a flawless heist. Their target includes the Vatican Secret Archives and the Treasury of St Peter’s Basilica, promising untold riches. However, as tensions rise and unexpected events unfold, Nikola begins to question Dante’s true intentions. With a sudden death disrupting the fragile balance of power within the Catholic Church, chaos ensues, providing a perfect cover for the heist. As the team navigates the Vatican’s hidden passages and impersonates clergy, they are unaware of the larger game at play, where the stakes go beyond mere treasure.