Last year MGM required the rights to Lew Wallace's 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ," which was famously adapted in 1959 by director William Wyler. Starring Charlton Heston, the film won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is now getting the Hollywood remake treatment courtesy of Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter director Timur Bekmambetov. Son of God and The Bible producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have joined the film, and will be co-producing along with Sean Daniel (the Mummy franchise) and Joni Levin. According to Variety, the film will be closer to the 1880 novel, which focuses on the years prior to those seen in the 1959 film. It centers on Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem, and his childhood friend Messala, who returns home as a commanding officer of the Roman legions, and betrays Ben-Hur and his family. The new film was written by Keith Clarke, with revisions from 12 Years A Slave writer John Ridley, and is currently set for a February 26, 2016 release date.
James is a 24 year old writer and filmmaker living in Portland, OR. He attended college for graphic design and writes for various sources on the web about film, television, and entertainment.
You can view all of his work on his website, www.thereeljames.wordpress.com
