![\"jesus-vr-a\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/227\/2017\/03\/jesus-vr-a.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThree quick items about three new Jesus films coming out later this year.<\/p>\n
1. Mary Magdalene<\/a><\/i> has a release date. The Weinstein Company has announced that it will release the film on November 24, almost exactly a year to the day after it released director Garth Davis\u2019s previous film, the Oscar-nominated Lion<\/a><\/i>. (Mary Magdalene<\/i> is also coming out two weeks after the animated Nativity movie The Star<\/a><\/i>.)<\/p>\n According to the official synopsis<\/a>, Mary Magdalene<\/i> will tell<\/p>\n the story of Mary (Mara), a young woman in search of a new way of living. Constricted by the hierarchies of the day, Mary defies her traditional family<\/a> to join a new social movement led by the charismatic Jesus of Nazareth (Phoenix). She soon finds a place for herself within the movement and at the heart of a journey that will lead to the capital city of Jerusalem.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sounds interesting, though I\u2019m wondering how a family-defying young woman would support Jesus and the disciples financially, as the biblical Mary Magdalene did<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. The producers of 40 Nights<\/a><\/i> have released a poster and a trailer for their Christmas-themed follow-up, Chasing the Star<\/a><\/i>. According to a press release<\/a>, the film<\/p>\n reflects back on the story of the magi (Garry Nation, Randy Spence, Bello Pizzimenti) who set out to follow the star that appears in the sky and seek the newborn Messiah. Their efforts are hampered by King Herod (Ralph Lister) and his sister Salome (Yancy Butler).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The film will have a limited theatrical release in May and will come out \u201cnationally\u201d \u2014 presumably on DVD \u2014 in September. You can see the movie\u2019s website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here is the poster for the film:<\/p>\n