Ben-Hur races into theaters this Friday with a fresh new take for 2016, telling a story that is more about forgiveness than revenge than the 1959 version of the movie, which starred Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd, and won 11 Academy Awards.
Ben-Hur , based on the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace, is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Forced into slavery, Judah loses everything he loves. Then five years into his sentence, an accident frees him and Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, with the help of an African known as Ilderim (Morgan Freeman), but instead finds redemption.
For a complete interview with Jack Huston, click here.
Executive Producer Mark Burnett, who along with wife Roma Downey, has produced five faith projects in the past four years — The Bible, Son of God, A.D. The Bible Continues, Dovekeepers, and now Ben-Hur — thinks Wallace’s story resonates with audiences all these years later because the subject matter is still timely.
“When the book was written, it was 15 years after the American Civil War,” Burnett tells Parade.com. “Imagine living in America after the Civil War. Many, many people died in awful ways. The country was ripped in two and may have not survived. This book is written and it becomes the most read book. Prior to this book, the most read book was Uncle Tom’s Cabin and this displaced that as the most read book, possibly, because of the story of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
Much has changed in the world since Wallace’s book was published and much has changed in cinema since the 1959 version was made. The new take on the novel, while keeping essential elements such as the initial desire for revenge resulting in the breathtaking chariot race, will take a fresh look at the story of the two brothers, and will feature a more naturalistic style of acting, especially with its stars.
“Jack Huston brings a dignity to the princely Judah,” Downey tells Parade.com when asked why Huston was the perfect actor for the role. “He brings a passion to the angry Judah. He brings a sensitivity to the broken Judah. And he brings a heroic resolve to the Judah who closes the movie and rides off into the sunset. He’s a really multi-faceted actor and, I think, he’s a Judah for 2016.”
Downey and Burnett are hoping that when the new Ben-Hur opens in theaters, it will inspire conversations about religion and what’s going on in the world.
“I think as filmmakers that we have a potential to reach so many people with film, TV, media,” Downey says “It’s just a great way to communicate something to a whole world. Right now the world is hurting and there is such confusion. Our hope would be that while you leave the theater full of popcorn and full of the excitement that this movie has satiated, because it’s a great big blockbuster summer movie, but that that deeper meaning will resonate and that people will engage in the places of healing.”
Ben-Hur opens nationwide on Friday, August 19.
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