Last week it was announced that Morgan Freeman (Now You See Me) has signed on to the cast of MGM and Paramount Pictures upcoming Ben-Hur remake, and now Deadline is reporting that British actor Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) will take on the title role, which was famously filled by Charlton Heston back in the 1959 classic.
The new version of Ben-Hur is being directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) and is said to take its inspiration from the 1880 Lew Wallace novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ, with Keith Clarke (The Way Back) and John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) contibuting to the script. It will tell the story of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur and his blood fued with childhood friend Messala, a Roman who betrays Ben-Hur, resulting in him being sold into slavery and vowing revenge.
Ben-Hur is set for release on February 26th, 2016.
Originally published September 18, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
