With two prominent Catholic organizations recently signing on as official partners, a new film taking an in-depth look at the soon-to-be first millennial saint is starting to catch the eye of fans of Catholic media and beyond. 

Roadmap to Reality: Carlo Acutis and Our Digital Age is the latest project of Castletown Media, the media company responsible for producing the Knights of Columbus’ Mother Teresa: No Greater Love and this year’s Spirit-Filled Hearts film Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist. The documentary film is a deep dive into the life of its namesake, the teenage Italian website designer who documented Eucharistic miracles virtually before his death from leukemia in 2006.

With the film slated for a theatrical release in spring 2025, newly announced partnerships with the National Eucharistic Congress, Inc. and the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame have given the project new life and an opportunity to influence more than those who catch it on the big screen. 

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“There was a real sense that this is where the Church needs to be right now, proclaiming the Gospel but in the particular context in this culture that we are in. We have a shared mission to revivify the Church, not just in the United States, but around the world through centring on Christ in the Eucharist,” Castletown Media CEO and director Tim Moriarty said about partnering with the National Eucharistic Congress. 

“The McGrath Institute of Church Life at Notre Dame has thought very deeply about this question of technology and they are going to be creating parish resources such as study guides and First Communion prep so that this film becomes more than just a film. We want this to be a means of passing the faith on as formators, pastors and parents help kids navigate the digital world.” 

Roadmap to Reality’s producers and new partners presented a preview of the film at the Plenary Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore on Nov. 11, where the American bishops learned about the new partnership and the many resources being developed for the initiative.

The team revealed it will explore Blessed Acutis’ life and legacy inspired by their discussions with his mother. Upon meeting with her in Beaumont, Texas, they asked her how she would like her son’s story, one often reduced to his relatability with younger audiences, to be shared. Her thoughts on how the film should look continue to stick with the director and fellow staff. 

“(Blessed Carlo) wore blue jeans and owned sneakers and all that stuff is true, but she said that he was different. He wasn't ordinary, he was a mystic. There is something about that difference that she wanted us to show that there was a real depth to Carlo, this mystical connection he had with Christ and the Eucharist in particular,” Moriarty said. 

Jim Wahlberg, producer of the film and CEO of Wahl St. Productions, recalls the meeting with Acutis’ mother well. He said for him, it was a firm indication that Castletown Media had an opportunity to create a special project that points to Christ through Blessed Acutis’ story. Wahlberg noted that he was struck by Acutis’ mother's humility and kindness as she gave her blessing for Castletown to pursue the project. 

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The project also aims to address themes of pilgrimage and technology as it follows the journey of some 150 high school kids from North Dakota who leave their phones at home on a journey to Rome, culminating in a visit to Acutis’ tomb. 

During an announcement to his general audience in St. Peter's Square on World Children's Day in November, Pope Francis confirmed he will canonize Blessed Acutis on April 27, during the Jubilee for Adolescents in Rome. Some may argue the timing in relation to the film's release is a coincidence, others a stroke of good fortune, but to the team behind Roadmap to Reality, divine providence is the only answer. 

“There was no indication when we first started that (canonization) was going to happen this year, so to us, it feels unbelievably providential. God is behind this, even the theme of pilgrimage in the film coincides with the Jubilee next year and its theme of Pilgrims of Hope,” the CEO said. 

“The culture is very sick in terms of what is going on with screen time, the unbelievable statistics with young people and depression rates, lack of faith and we are seeing people that are just not connecting with their faith. There is something in the story about Carlo that is a lightning rod to God who has raised this young man up to help people as they guide through these very strange waters we are swimming in.” 

Wahlberg agrees wholeheartedly, emphasizing the far-reaching implications that Acutis’ story can have on society as a whole, not just for the faithful. He recalls seeing a segment about Blessed Acutis on FOX News while in the middle of a country club not long ago. 

“I remember looking up at this TV while at this country club full of fancy and famous people and it was like God giving me this little reminder of what is really important. I saw a little clip of his mother speaking about him and I knew that this was going to be something really big. The world needs this, our young people need this message of hope and new direction back to the origin of all, the heart of Christ,” he said. 

With a few months left before its theatrical release in the U.S., Wahlberg hopes the film accomplishes what many of his past projects have, pointing each viewer toward Christ — a sentiment he believes Blessed Acutis would want as well.

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“Carlo, I think, would not be trying to garner likes and views for himself. He would be deflecting that attention to our Lord, that is beautiful, and that is what I think this film is about in the end,” he said. 

 For updates on Roadmap to Reality, visit www.CarloAcutisFilm.com