'Ben-Hur' Remake Film Release Date, Cast News: Filming Location Announced
The remake for the classic William Wyler swords-and-sandals epic "Ben-Hur" is already filming in Rome, Italy, Paramount and MGM announced yesterday.
The report from Screen Crush indicated that the new version of the chariot-racing flick is being directed by Timur Bekmambetov and its script was written by Keith Clarke. Meanwhile, "12 Years A Slave" writer John Ridley is adapting the Lew Wallace novel for the big screen.
As for the casting process, Screen Rant previously indicated that several big names including Tom Hiddleston, Pedro Pascal and Gal Gadot were touted for the main roles. All of which were replaced by relative newcomers except for Morgan Freeman, who is slated to appear as Ildreim, the sheik who commissioned the titular hero to drive his chariot.
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The complete cast list was further posted by SR in their website and they are as follows:
- Jack Huston as the Jewish nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur, who is sentenced to a life of slavery
- Toby Kebbel as the hero's childhood friend and later his adversary, Messala
- Nazanin Boniadi as Esther, the slave who fell in love with Ben-Hur
- Rodrigo Santoro, who will appear as Jesus Christ
- Sofia Black D'Elia – as Tirzah, Ben-Hur's sister
- Ayelet Zurer – as Naomi, Ben-Hur's mother
- Moises Arias – as Gestas, the "teenage Jewish zealot"
- Pilou Asbaek – as Pontius Pilate, the Judean governor who oversees the chariot racing event
According to the press release, the new "Ben-Hur" will return "to the heart of Lew Wallace's epic novel focusing on the nature of faith. The story follows a falsely accused nobleman who survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him. Both must come to choose between retribution or forgiveness."
As stated, the film is expected to open in theaters Feb. 26, 2016.
