Paramount has dropped the mythic first trailer for Timur Bekmambetov’s long-gestating Ben-Hur remake, resurrecting a cinematic icon of swords, sandals and back-stabbing Roman Generals.
Leading the cast as the titular prince is Jack Huston – a role made famous by the great Charlton Heston – who is forced into slavery after being stripped of his titles and reputation by former friend-turned-villain Messala (Fantastic Four‘s Toby Kebbell).
Torn between retribution or forgiveness, it’s a bitter rivalry that culminates in a grandstanding chariot race, one which Bekmambetov and his visual team will recreate via bleeding-edge visual effects. But can it possibly recapture the awe-inspiring cinema magic of William Wyler’s rendition from ’59? We’ll find out this summer.
Aiming for a fresh spin on Lew Wallace’s seminal 1880 novel of the same name, Bekmambetov has recruited a starry lineup to line up alongside Huston and Kebbell, including Morgan Freeman, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zorer, Sofia Black-D’Elia and Danish actor Pilou Asbæk as Judean emperor Pontius Pilate.
Ben-Hur will roar into theaters on August 12.
BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro.