After news reached us earlier in the week that Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman is to star in Ted 2, it has emerged over the last 24 hours that the actor is keeping himself even busier, with word that the actor has become the first actor signed on to co-star ithe remake of Ben-Hur.
MGM and Paramount’s upcoming film, which is to be directed by Night Watch and Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov, will see Freeman play Ildarin, the man who trains Ben-Hur. Earlier in the month, rumours had spread that Loki/ Thor star Tom Hiddleston was being eyed for the lead role, but as of yet no official word on whether those rumours are true.
The new take on Ben-Hur was originally scripted by Keith Clarke (The Way Back), but has been having re-writes done by Academy Award-winner John Ridley, who wrote last year’s Best Picture winner 12 Years A Slave, and is more based on Lew Wallace’s 1880 epic novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ than the original movie.
The film is said to return to the heart of the epic novel with a focus on the nature of faith. The story follows a falsely-accused nobleman who survives years of slavery to take vengeance on his best friend who betrayed him. Both must come to choose between retribution or forgiveness.
Set for release on February 26th, 2016, expect much more casting updates over the next few months as pre-production kicks into gear.
Originally published September 12, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
