Russell Crowe and the makers of the big-budget film Noah have attended Pope Francis' general audience, but didn't get what they most wanted: a papal meeting and photo-op.
The Australian star had lobbied hard for a papal thumbs-up for his film and the ensuing publicity a Francis blessing would bring.
Noah has been banned in much of the Muslim world because of its depiction of the prophet, while US conservatives have complained it took liberties with the Biblical account of the flood.
The Vatican spokesman, the Reverend Federico Lombardi, said the request from Noah's producers for a private audience was immediately turned down.
In an email on Wednesday, Lombardi said there was similarly no scheduled "meet and greet" after Wednesday's general audience, when VIPs can often get a quick word with the Pope.
"They could have been at the audience like anyone else," Lombardi said.
Wednesday's audience drew an estimated crowd of 80,000.
Francis is loath to lend such blessings for publicity.
Given his sensitivities to the Muslim world - and his upcoming trip to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories - it would seem natural that he would decline any public endorsement of a film that might offend Muslim viewers.
Variety reported that the Noah delegation, including Crowe, director Darren Aronofsky, producer Scott Franklin, and the vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, Rob Moore, had met with the Pope, citing a spokeswoman for Universal, which is distributing the film in Italy.
But in an email, Paramount merely said the delegation "went to hear" Francis' address at the audience.
Crowe was spotted in the VIP section of St Peter's Square, but was too far back to reach the Pope.
After the audience, Crowe tweeted: "Thank you holy father (at)Pontifex for the blessing," and "What a privilege, attended the Udienza with the holy father (at)Pontifex."
Crowe had avidly sought Francis' blessing for the film, tweeting in recent weeks: "Holy Father (at)pontifex, it would be my deepest pleasure to bring the (at)darrenAronofsky film to you to screen. That this may happen Inshallah."
The $US125 million ($A138.00 million) film opens in Australia on March 27.
