Will Tom Hiddleston step into the sandals of Charlton Heston? The Avengers actor could soon be starring in a remake of Ben-Hur.
According to Deadline, MGM and Paramount want Hiddleston for the title role of Judah Ben-Hur. No casting has been confirmed yet, but elsewhere pieces are lining up. Wanted’s Timur Bekmambetov will direct the film, while 12 Years a Slave screenwriter John Ridley polished up the script from Keith Clarke’s first draft.
Based on Lem Wallace’s novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ, the story has been told several times on film. Indeed, HitFix reported that Hiddleston would be the fifth actor to portray Judah Ben-Hur. The most famous adaptation, William Wyler’s 1959 epic, won 11 Oscars.
The story revolves around the titular Judah Ben-Hur, a first century Jewish prince who is sold into slavery due to the machinations of his backstabbing friend, the Roman noble Messala. Judah escapes slavery and returns to seek revenge on Messala. Playing out against this tale is the parallel story of Jesus Christ, which the remake is reported to give more weight.
The film is currently set to be released on Feb. 26, 2016.
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