{"id":27362,"date":"2015-02-02T11:54:12","date_gmt":"2015-02-02T19:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/filmchat\/?p=27362"},"modified":"2015-02-04T01:09:35","modified_gmt":"2015-02-04T09:09:35","slug":"the-ben-hur-remake-has-started-principal-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/filmchat\/2015\/02\/the-ben-hur-remake-has-started-principal-photography.html","title":{"rendered":"The Ben-Hur<\/i> remake has started principal photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"ben-hur-chariotrace\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The third feature-film adaptation of Lew Wallace\u2019s Ben-Hur<\/a><\/i> started principal photography in Italy today. The press release doesn\u2019t tell us anything we didn\u2019t already know about the cast, but it does let us know a bit more about the crew behind the camera. Check it out below the jump. (The studio did not release any pictures from the film\u2019s first day on set, so the picture above comes from the 1959 film.)<\/p>\n

Here is the press release, with links to my earlier posts on the film\u2019s cast and crew:<\/p>\n

\u2013<\/p>\n

<\/p>

METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES AND PARAMOUNT PICTURES
\nANNOUNCE THE START OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON
\n\u201cBEN-HUR\u201d
\nDirected By Timur Bekmambetov<\/b><\/center>\n

HOLLYWOOD, CA (February 2, 2015) \u2013 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., announced today that principal photography has begun on \u201cBEN-HUR\u201d starring Jack Huston<\/a> (\u201cAMERICAN HUSTLE\u201d) as Judah Ben-Hur, Morgan Freeman<\/a> (\u201cTHE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION\u201d) as Ilderim, Toby Kebbell<\/a> (\u201cDAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES\u201d) as Messala and Nazanin Boniadi<\/a> (\u201cHOMELAND\u201d) as Esther. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov<\/a> (\u201cWANTED\u201d) and written by Keith Clarke (\u201cTHE WAY BACK\u201d) and John Ridley<\/a> (\u201c12 YEARS A SLAVE\u201d), the film is based on Lew Wallace\u2019s epic novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ<\/u>. The producers are Sean Daniel (\u201cTHE MUMMY\u201d franchise), Mark Burnett<\/a> (\u201cSON OF GOD\u201d), Joni Levin (\u201cTHE WAY BACK\u201d) and Duncan Henderson (\u201cMASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD\u201d). Serving as executive producers are Roma Downey (\u201cTHE BIBLE\u201d), Keith Clarke, John Ridley and Jason Brown. Filming will take place in Rome and Matera, Italy with the film set for release February 26, 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cBEN-HUR\u201d also stars Rodrigo Santoro<\/a> (\u201c300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE\u201d) as Jesus Christ, Sofia Black D\u2019Elia<\/a> (\u201cGOSSIP GIRL\u201d) as Tirzah, Ayelet Zurer<\/a> (\u201cMAN OF STEEL\u201d) as Naomi, Moises Arias<\/a> (\u201cENDER\u2019S GAME\u201d) as Gestas and Pilou Asb\u00e6k<\/a> (\u201cLUCY\u201d) as Pontius Pilate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could not have imagined a more perfect location to shoot this epic than Italy. We can\u2019t wait to get started,\u201d said Bekmambetov. <\/p>\n

The film returns to the heart of Lew Wallace\u2019s epic novel focusing 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.<\/p>\n

Behind the scenes, the creative team includes Director of Photography, Oliver Wood (\u201cTHE BOURNE IDENTITY\u201d), Production Designer, Naomi Shohan (\u201cAMERICAN BEAUTY\u201d), Costume Designer, Varvava Avdyushko (\u201cWANTED\u201d), Visual Effects Supervisor, Academy Award\u00ae Winner Jim Rygiel (\u201cTHE LORD OF THE RINGS\u201d Franchise) and Special Effects Supervisor, Andy Williams (\u201cFURY\u201d).<\/p>\n

MGM will handle production with Jonathan Glickman, President, Motion Picture Group and Matt Dines, Vice President, Production, overseeing the project on behalf of the studio. The film will be distributed worldwide theatrically and on home entertainment by Paramount Pictures, with select international territories as well as all television distribution to be handled by MGM.<\/p>\n

# # #<\/p>\n

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer<\/p>\n

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and distribution of film and television content globally. The company owns one of the world\u2019s deepest libraries of premium film and television content. In addition, MGM has investments in domestic and international television channels and is the majority owner of and distributor for United Artists Media Group (UAMG). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.<\/p>\n

About Paramount Pictures Corporation<\/p>\n

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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