Director Yelena Popovic Teases Film Projects on Fr. Seraphim Rose and Other Orthodox Saints

Fr. Seraphim Rose and Yelena Popovic. Photos: ACROD (left) and Basilica News Agency (right)

JAN. 5, 2025 — In an interview with the Union of Orthodox Journalists of America, "Man of God" and "Moses the Black" director Yelena Popovic said that she has a tentative script put together for a project on the life of Fr. Seraphim Rose. She has also conducted research on the life of Hieromartyr John of Santa Cruz.

"There is a script, but it's just a tentative idea about St. Seraphim Rose," Popovic said, explicitly referring to him as a saint. "I think that would be a fantastic story, but that would need a lot of work."

She added that she gathered more information about the life and veneration of Hieromartyr John of Santa Cruz — who she also referred to as a saint — while in Greece for a potential project on the Greek priest who was killed in California in 1985 and whose ministry to those exploring the Orthodox faith coincided with Fr. Seraphim Rose's in the same region of the country.

Popovic also mentioned St. John of Shanghai and St. Nikolai Velimirovich as two saints she would be interested in depicting through a movie or miniseries.

"St. John of Shanghai has an amazing story," she said. "I love St. John of Shanghai... St. Nikolai Velimirovich, that would be something. I don't think it's a movie, I think it's more of a miniseries because of his life."

Popovic added that she doesn't know if these things will come to fruition, but she's just putting it out there. She also added that she doesn't necessarily plan to direct these films, but would like to be involved in the writing process to make sure the stories are told well.

In a potential collaboration with another Orthodox filmmaker, Popovic also spoke with Pavel Lungin — director of "The Island" — about a script for a movie that could be faith-based. Popovic said that this potential project would be about resurrection, and how the real resurrection only happens with God.

"It could be slightly controversial," she said. "... This world tends to want to be God and take the place of God, and they have all these ideas on how we can run around like little gods. This film will kind of be an antidote to that."

"Moses the Black" releases in theaters on January 30, 2026. Tickets can be purchased here.

Previously, UOJ reported on Popovic's belief that "we all need stories of repentance."

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