BEN-HUR is one of those classic films that has been in the remake rumor mill for quite a while now, and with Hollywood’s frequent interest in sword and sandals flicks it’s only natural we’d eventually see this happen. MGM and Paramount are producing a new BEN-HUR, with visionary director Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED) at the helm. Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell and Rodrigo Santoro are among the cast members, and as of today the production is in full swing. Check out the official studio press release below announcing the beginning of principal photography. Are you ready for a BEN-HUR remake/re-imagining? Tell us in the comments.
Hollywood, CA (February 2, 2015) – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., announced today that principal photography has begun on BEN-HUR starring Jack Huston (AMERICAN HUSTLE) as Judah Ben-Hur, Morgan Freeman (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) as Ilderim, Toby Kebbell (DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES) as Messala and Nazanin Boniadi (HOMELAND) as Esther. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED) and written by Keith Clarke (THE WAY BACK) and John Ridley (12 YEARS A SLAVE), the film is based on Lew Wallace’s epic novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ. The producers are Sean Daniel (THE MUMMY franchise), Mark Burnett (SON OF GOD), Joni Levin (THE WAY BACK) and Duncan Henderson (MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD). Serving as executive producers are Roma Downey (THE BIBLE), Keith Clarke, John Ridley and Jason Brown. Filming will take place in Rome and Matera, Italy with the film set for release February 26, 2016.
BEN-HUR also stars Rodrigo Santoro (300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE) as Jesus Christ, Sofia Black D’Elia (GOSSIP GIRL) as Tirzah, Ayelet Zurer (MAN OF STEEL) as Naomi, Moises Arias (ENDER’S GAME) as Gestas and Pilou Asbæk (LUCY) as Pontius Pilate.
“You could not have imagined a more perfect location to shoot this epic than Italy. We can’t wait to get started,” said Bekmambetov.
The film returns 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.
Behind the scenes, the creative team includes Director of Photography, Oliver Wood (THE BOURNE IDENTITY), Production Designer, Naomi Shohan (AMERICAN BEAUTY), Costume Designer, Varvava Avdyushko (WANTED), Visual Effects Supervisor, Academy Award® Winner Jim Rygiel (THE LORD OF THE RINGS franchise) and Special Effects Supervisor, Andy Williams (FURY).
MGM will handle production with Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group and Matt Dines, Vice President, Production, overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. The film will be distributed worldwide theatrically and on home entertainment by Paramount Pictures, with select international territories as well as all television distribution to be handled by MGM.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
