Over the past few years, as part of their recovery from the financial crisis that almost closed the studio, MGM has been developing remakes of several films in their catalog. So far, we’ve seen the likes of Red Dawn and RoboCop, neither of which were very successful for the company. But the studio is continuing with their strategy and it looks like like the next library title that will be going in front of the cameras will be the classic Ben-Hur.
Deadline is reporting that Boardwalk Empire star Jack Huston has been cast in the film’s title role of Judah Ben-Hur, the Jewish prince who vows revenge after being betrayed by his former friend and sold into slavery. The story culminates in a high-stakes chariot race, which is a highlight of both the 1959 version of the story which starred Charlton Heston as well as the original 1925 silent adaptation of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel.
Huston will be joining the already cast Morgan Freeman, who is set to play Ildarin, the man who teaches Ben-Hur to become a chariot racer. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter helmer Timur Bekmambetov is set to direct. The studio is hoping to get the project in front of cameras in Europe next year.
Damn, I guess that knocks him out for Dr.Strange.