![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/227\/2013\/08\/timurbekmambetov.jpg\" "\\"timurbekmambetov\\"")
<\/a>Seven months ago<\/a>, we learned that MGM was developing a new adaptation of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ<\/i>, the classic Lew Wallace novel that had previously been adapted by the studio in 1925 and 1959. Now comes word that Timur Bekmambetov \u2014 the Kazakh director of Night Watch<\/a><\/i> (2004), Wanted<\/a><\/i> (2008) and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter<\/a><\/i> (2012) \u2014 is in talks to direct the film<\/a>, apparently because the studio feels he has \u201ca strong grasp on the story\u2019s themes of revenge and redemption<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nAt first glance, Bekmambetov \u2014 who specializes in heavily stylized adaptations of comic books and horror-fantasy novels \u2014 would seem an odd fit for this story, given the ancient setting and the sincerity or earnestness with which earlier films have tackled the novel\u2019s themes. But this news sort of makes sense in light of the fact that studios have been trying for years now to imitate the success of 300<\/a><\/i> (2006), a heavily stylized adaptation of a graphic novel about the Persian invasion of Greece.<\/p>\n Consider: when Ridley Scott\u2019s Moses movie Exodus<\/a><\/i> was first announced four years ago<\/a> \u2014 long before Scott himself became involved with the film \u2014 it was reportedly conceived as \u201ca \u2018300\u2019-like . . . visually stunning action piece\u201d. (I don\u2019t expect it to be all that 300<\/i>-like now<\/i> with Scott at the helm, but that was the film\u2019s original pitch.)<\/p>\n Similarly, two years ago<\/a> it was reported that Scott Derrickson<\/a> had teamed up with Temple Hill and Relativity Media to develop a film about David and Goliath, described at the time as \u201ca period action movie made with contemporary sensibilities . . . that harkens to the spirit of films such as 300<\/i> and The Bourne Identity<\/a><\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n And those are just the Bible movies. Other ancient-set movies that have been filmed in a heavily stylized manner over the last few years include Immortals<\/i> (2011), about the Greek hero Theseus, and the upcoming sequel 300: Rise of an Empire<\/a><\/i> (2014).<\/p>\n So it was probably inevitable that a big-screen remake of Ben-Hur<\/i> would at least flirt with a similar aesthetic. Still, it\u2019s hard to believe that one of the most famous Jesus stories ever \u2014 a property once shepherded by the great William Wyler<\/a>, the most-nominated director in Oscar history \u2014 could soon be in the hands of a man who, just the other day, released a trailer for a film about killer squirrels.<\/p>\n