I really like this, a significant scientific/historical subject with a great dramatic conflict and storyline.

I think I get what you are going for with “it takes a lifetime”- it’s not so much that the movie has to take place over his entire life, but it represents the time and effort he has taken to produce his findings. I think it’s possible to describe the same thing in different terms, to avoid any possible misunderstanding about the focus of the movie.

I brainstormed another version of your log, maybe a couple of elements might be useful?

Nicolaus Copernicus creates a new theory of the universe upending all prevailing cultural and religious beliefs about man’s place in the universe, ?but self-doubt and the threat?of retribution prevent him from?publishing his life’s work until a Protestant Professor also risks persecution and imprisonment to stand by his side.

It sounds like?Copernicus is the protag who goes through a significant character arc, and the professor is the main supporting character that enables his change, even if they get approximately equal screen time.

I tried to make Copernicus a bit more ‘active’ in the logline, in the previous version he seemed a bit passive.?He would seem to be facing just as much opposition and danger as the professor, regardless of who goes to prison in the plot. I also tried to better connote the forces against him, as his theory was truly revolutionary and turned existing beliefs upside-down.