Why is the film 'Ben-Hur' being remade now?
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Cinema鈥檚 most famous chariot race is coming to the big screen again, as a remake of the classic story 鈥淏en-Hur鈥� arrives in theaters on Aug. 19.
The 1959 version of 鈥淏en-Hur鈥� starred Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, who is taken from his life as a rich merchant and becomes a slave after his former friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), punishes him for an imagined crime.
The new take stars Jack听Huston of 鈥淏oardwalk Empire鈥� as Judah Ben-Hur, Toby Kebbell as Messala, and features Morgan Freeman, Nazanin Boniadi, and Rodrigo Santoro.听
Why remake the film now?
The 1959 movie has a religious aspect, as the film concludes with Judah seeing Jesus Christ be crucified. When the news of the 鈥淏en-Hur鈥� remake was announced in 2013, noted the religious themes of the film and other movies that were then in production and have since been released, including the 2014 film 鈥淓xodus: Gods and Kings鈥� and the movie 鈥淣oah,鈥� which was released the same year.
[Editor's note:听The original version of this article referenced the wrong movie version of "Ben-Hur."]听
鈥淭he depiction of Jesus Christ as an occasional character in the script puts this project squarely in the mix of Biblical-themed films that are proliferating at studios around town,鈥� Mr. Fleming wrote. The History Channel Bible miniseries was released later in 2013 and brought extremely positive ratings to the History Channel.
And the 2015 movie 鈥淲ar Room,鈥� a contemporary drama with religious themes, surprised some industry observers with its box office performance, with writing that the film 鈥渞eaffirm[ed] the value of producing pictures for faith-based moviegoers.鈥澨�
Those creating 鈥淏en-Hur鈥� are most likely hoping to lure in some viewers with the religious plot and others with the prospect of remaking the original movie鈥檚 famous action scenes. A trailer this spring emphasized the chariot race, showing crashing wheels and a driver being knocked out of the chariot and dragged along the ground.听
As听听notes, the film features not only听鈥渢he chariot scene, shot mostly in the style of a NASCAR race," but also "a more prominent and evangelical-friendly spiritual quotient.鈥�
Can this combination win over audiences? Some industry observers are seeing trouble ahead, with calling the predictions for the film's opening 鈥渁larming.鈥澨�
鈥淎nother big-budget 2016 summer event film could be in trouble at the U.S. box office,鈥� Ms. McClintock writes. 鈥淓arly tracking suggests 鈥楤en-Hur鈥� will open in the $14 to $15 million range 鈥� a sobering start.鈥�
