Morgan Freeman Heads to BEN-HUR Remake

Deadline writes that Morgan Freeman is the latest star to board MGM and Paramount's BEN-HUR reboot. Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) directs the project, based on Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ.

Read the original news here.

The actor will play 'Ildarin', described as "the man who teaches the slave Ben-Hur to become a champion-caliber chariot racer". As BWW reported last month, Tom Hiddleston is currently under consideration for the title role.

The screenplay, originally written by Keith Clarke (The Way Back), with revisions by Academy Award-winner John Ridley (12 Years A Slave), is based on Lew Wallace's 1880 epic novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ. Downey (The Bible) and Ridley will serve as executive producers along with Keith Clarke and Jason F. Brown.

The film returns to the heart of Lew Wallace's 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.

Mark Burnett, Sean Daniel (The Mummy Franchise) and Joni Levin (The Way Back) are also on the producing team, with Roma Downey as executive producer.

Freeman's upcoming big screen projects include Dolphin Tale 2, We the People, Last Knights, Ted 2 and London Has Fallen. He has received Oscar nominations for Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus, winning for Million Dollar Baby. He is also known for his work in The Dark Knight trilogy and recently appeared in The Lego Movie and Lucy.

BEN-HUR is set for release on February 26, 2016.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

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