Taglines: First to finish. Last to die.
A Jewish nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) and his adoptive Roman brother Messala (Toby Kebbell) are best friends despite their different origins. While racing horses, Ben-Hur is hurt and Messala carries him back to their family home in Jerusalem. Despite the hospitality of Ben Hur’s mother Naomi (Ayelet Zurer) and the affections of sister Tirzah (Sofia Black D’Elia), Messala feels alienated in his adopted family. He enlists in the Roman army and fights in the Roman Empire’s wars in Germany. Ben-Hur also develops feelings for the family slave Esther (Nazanin Boniadi) although their different station in life compels him not to pursue her. But when her father Simonides (Haluk Bilginer) seeks to marry her off to a Roman, Judah declares his love for her and takes her as his wife.
Three years later, Messala returns as a decorated Roman officer. His return coincides with a rising insurrection by the Zealots, who are opposed to the oppressive nature of Roman rule. Judah treats and shelters a young Zealot youth named Dismas (Moisés Arias). Messala reunites with Ben-Hur and attempts to convince his adoptive brother to serve as an informant. Following a reunion dinner with Ben-Hur and his family, Messala informs them that a new Roman governor Pontius Pilate (Pilou Asbæk) will be taking residence in Jerusalem and that no incidents must occur.
Days later, Pontius Pilate marches into Jerusalem with Ben-Hur and his family watching from a balcony. Dismas attempts to assassinate Pilate with a bow but fails. In retaliation, the Romans storm Ben-Hur’s household and arrest him and his family. Rather than betray a fellow Jew, Ben-Hur takes responsibility for the assassination attempt and is sentenced to enslavement aboard a galley. His mother and sister are sentenced to be crucified. Ben-Hur and Messala fall out with the two hating each other for their perceived betrayals. While being led to the galley, Ben-Hur encounters Jesus (Rodrigo Santoro), who fetches him some water.
Ben-Hur is an American historical epic action film directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Keith R. Clarke and John Ridley. It is based on the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace and has been termed a “re-adaptation”, “reimagining” and “new interpretation” of the novel.
Prior film adaptations of the book include the 1925 and the 1959 films of same name. The film stars Jack Huston, Morgan Freeman, Toby Kebbell, Nazanin Boniadi and Rodrigo Santoro. Principal photography began on February 2, 2015 in Rome, Italy and lasted for about 6 months finishing in August 2015. The film is scheduled to be released on August 19, 2016 in North America in 2D, 3D, RealD 3D and Digital 3D.
Cast and Characters
Jack Huston as Judah Ben-Hur
a Jewish prince in Roman-occupied Jerusalem who is betrayed and falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala and is sentenced to a life of slavery. Ben-Hur loses everything and spends five years in the galley of a Roman slave ship and later takes on the Roman Empire and avenges his adoptive brother in a grand chariot race while finding redemption and being forever changed after a series of encounters with Jesus Christ.
Huston said he felt “incredibly honored to be stepping into Charlton Heston’s sandals.” He was initially offered the role of Messala, but director Bekmambetov decided instead he had the sympathetic manner and grit to play the title role.
Bekmambetov found Huston to be an actor who not only was a “well-built, experienced horseman” but one who “felt like he was born in that era.” He said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if some of Jack’s many famous ancestors took part in an actual fight between Romans and Judaeans [sic] we depict in our film.” Tom Hiddleston was originally considered for the role.
Morgan Freeman as Sheik Ilderim
a sheik who trains Ben-Hur to become a charioteer to avenge his brother, Messala.
Toby Kebbell as Messala
an officer in the Roman army and Ben-Hur’s childhood friend and adoptive brother who betrays him.
Nazanin Boniadi as Esther
a Jewish slave and the love interest of Ben-Hur. Actresses Gal Gadot, Sofia Boutella, Moran Atias and Natalia Warner were all considered for the role during development.
Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus
Unlike in the original film, Christ will have a prominent role in this version. Paramount Pictures’ vice chairman, Rob Moore, stated that Christ in this version “is going to be consistent with people’s expectations,” and that the “expectations of the faithful will be honored by this one.” This was because Paramount wants to avoid the sort of backlash received by Darren Aronofsky’s Noah in which some Christians were dismayed by the film’s inventive and inaccurate interpretation of the Bible. Santoro received personal blessings from Pope Francis for his role as Christ.
Sofia Black D’Elia as Tirzah
Ben-Hur’s sister.
Ayelet Zurer as Naomi
Ben-Hur’s mother.
Moisés Arias as Gestas
a teenage Jewish zealot whose family has been murdered by the Romans and is desperate to fight for his people’s freedom.
Pilou Asbæk as Pontius Pilate
the Judean governor who oversees the chariot race.
Marwan Kenzari as Druses
a Roman captain who is involved with the betrayal by Messala that sends Ben-Hur on his path to redemption.
James Cosmo as Quintus
Ben-Hur
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Jack Huston, Nazanin Boniadi, Haluk Bilginer, Pilou Asbæk, Marwan Kenzari, Rodrigo Santoro, Moises Arias, Ayelet Zurer, Toby Kebbell, Sofia Black-D’Elia
Screenplay by: Keith R. Clarke
Production Design by: Naomi Shohan
Cinematography by: Oliver Wood
Film Editing by: Dody Dorn, Richard Francis-Bruce, Bob Murawski
Costume Design by: Varvara Avdyushko
Set Decoration by: Arianna Pascazi, Alessandra Querzola
Music by: Marco Beltrami
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and disturbing images.
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures
Release Date: August 19, 2016
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