Morgan Freeman also board the Biblical epic…
‘Boardwalk Empire’ star Jack Huston has scored the title role in MGM and Paramount’s upcoming ‘Ben-Hur’ remake with Timur Bekmambetov (‘Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter,’ ‘Night Watch’) set to direct.
A new adaptation of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel ‘Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ,’ the film focuses on the formative years of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince, and his childhood friend Messala, who returns home as a commanding officer of the Roman legions and betrays the Ben-Hur family.
Morgan “The Voice” Freeman, who worked with Bekmambetov on the 2008 actioner ‘Wanted,’ recently signed on to take the role of Ildarin, the man who trains the titular hero to become a champion-calibre chariot-racer.
The filmmakers will now turn their attention to casting the film’s antagonist, Messala.
Bekmambetov is expected get the film before cameras early next year in Europe. The script comes from Keith Clarke and John Ridley. Mark Burnett, Sean Daniel, and Joni Levin are on board to produce, with Clarke and Jason Brown serving as executive producers alongside Roma Downey