Genre: Musical Comedy, Family Director: Tim Federle Writers: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Kia Corthron Main Cast:

• Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence
• Kathy Najimy as Sister Mary Patrick
• Barnard Hughes as Monsignor O’Hara (returning cameo)
• Wendy Makkena as Sister Mary Robert
• Rosalie Eastman as Sister Mary Lazarus
• New cast: Cynthia Erivo as Sister Agnes (an ambitious young nun), Jordan Fisher as Father Marcus (a young priest), and a diverse group of inner-city teens.

Runtime: 115 minutes Release Year: 2026

Logline: Years after hiding in a convent, nightclub singer Deloris Van Cartier returns one last time to save a dying inner-city church by turning its ragtag choir into a global phenomenon; while an enemy from her past threatens everything she’s built.

OPENING SEQUENCE (LAS VEGAS, 2025 – MONTAGE)

The film opens with a spectacular Vegas show. Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg), now a legendary diva in her 70s, headlines “Divine Diva Nights” backed by the original nuns from the first two films. They perform an electrifying remix of “I Will Follow Him” with modern beats and LED lights. The crowd goes wild. Backstage, Deloris jokes, “God may not be early, but He’s always on beat!”

She gets a desperate call from Monsignor O’Hara: St. Thomas Cathedral in San Francisco is about to be sold after years of declining attendance and post-pandemic debt. The old nuns are retired, but they need Deloris for one final miracle: turn the church’s tiny, terrible choir into something that can save the building. Deloris hesitates; she swore off the nun life forever; but love wins. “One last song, sisters. Just one.”

ACT 1: THE RETURN (SAN FRANCISCO)

Deloris arrives at St. Thomas, a once-grand but now crumbling cathedral in a struggling neighborhood. She’s greeted by Father Marcus (Jordan Fisher), a young, hip, Black priest who loves hip-hop and dreams of making church “cool again.”

The current choir is a disaster:

• A handful of tone-deaf elderly nuns
• A group of at-risk teens from the community music program:
  • Jamal (16, gifted rapper, angry at the world)
  • Sofia (17, shy Latina soprano with a huge voice)
  • Twinsie & Twinsie (hilarious beatboxing twins)
• Sister Agnes (Cynthia Erivo), a former R&B singer turned nun, talented but secretly jealous of Deloris

Deloris drops the fake identity this time; she’s here as herself. First rehearsal is chaos: nuns singing dusty hymns, kids freestyling. Deloris declares, “Music isn’t a war; unless Jesus is the DJ!” She begins fusing gospel, hip-hop, Latin rhythms, and pop. Their first big number, “Rise Up in Harmony” (original song by Lin-Manuel Miranda), turns the church steps into a block party.

Conflict: Some conservative parishioners hate the “secular” sound, Father Marcus worries they’re going too far, and Sister Agnes feels threatened. But the next Sunday Mass, with a remixed “Hail Holy Queen,” packs the church for the first time in years.

Key Song Act 1: “Rise Up in Harmony”

ACT 2: MIRACLES AND MENACE

The choir goes viral on TikTok and X. Donations start rolling in. Then the Vatican takes notice: Pope Francis (video cameo) invites them to perform at a global interfaith peace concert in Rome. The prize money would save St. Thomas forever.

Deloris takes the kids and nuns on “field trips” across the city to learn rhythms from every culture. They collaborate with a gospel drag choir, a K-pop dance crew, even a mariachi band. Bonds form: Jamal finds faith through music, Sofia conquers stage fright, Sister Agnes and Deloris become best friends.

But danger returns. Vince LaRocca (Harvey Keitel reprising his role from the 1992 original), the mob boss Deloris testified against decades ago, is out of prison on parole. He sees her on a viral video and sends goons (including a teenage hacker) to ruin everything: sabotaging sound systems, spreading rumors, threatening Father Marcus.

At the final rehearsal before Rome, a sabotage attempt injures Sister Agnes. Deloris almost quits, but the original nuns fly in from Vegas and sing an a cappella “Oh Happy Day” in the hospital room. “We are the Choir of Miracles, Deloris. Not because we sing perfectly, but because we sing together.”

Key Songs Act 2: “Shadows in the Sanctuary” (emotional ballad), “Global Gospel Groove” (upbeat preparation montage)

ACT 3: ROME AND REDEMPTION

The choir arrives in Rome. On the plane they secretly rehearse, turning economy class into a flash-mob stage. At the Vatican they meet choirs from around the world and create one massive “world choir” under Deloris.

Vince’s final plan: his men sneak smoke bombs into St. Peter’s Square to cause panic during the live global broadcast. Deloris recognizes the threat and, with a quick call to retired Lieutenant Eddie Souther (flashback homage), alerts Italian police.

The concert begins. 100,000 people, live on every screen in the world. When the smoke bombs go off, the choir doesn’t stop; they turn the smoke into part of the show, singing louder, changing lyrics to “Light breaks through the darkness!” The crowd roars. Vince is arrested on the spot. He looks at Deloris one last time: “You beat me with music, not bullets.”

The Vatican awards the full prize. St. Thomas is saved forever.

Key Song Act 3: “Choir of Miracles” – massive finale with every culture and style combined

EPILOGUE (SAN FRANCISCO, ONE YEAR LATER)

St. Thomas is now a thriving community center and music academy. Christmas Eve Mass: everyone is back; old nuns, grown-up kids (now teachers), Father Marcus on the turntables. They close with a joyful, beatbox version of “Joyful, Joyful.” Deloris looks to heaven: “Lord, if You ever need another hit single, You know my number.”

Fade out on the words: “Music is the miracle. Keep singing.”

Themes: Unity in diversity, healing power of music, facing your past to build a better future, and the modern, inclusive church that welcomes LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and youth.