Remake of Ben Hur in the works

Yes.


I am curious to see who will get the lead. I think the movie could have serious boom or bust potential.

I could get behind this. The Heston one is an all-time classic but there's room for improvement.

Loved Ben, hated Hur

Personally I've always found the talkie version boring. I prefer the silent version, though that has its share of absurd moments.

How the 1926 chariot race was shot -- A fascinating mini-documentary on the special effects used in the silent version

Hopefully they more fully highlight the gay romance present in the original.

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Ben Hur was written by Lew Wallace, who was governor of New Mexico in the time of Billy The Kid

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I wasn't sure if they'd actually met, but according to Wiki they did:

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As governor, Wallace offered amnesty to many men involved in the Lincoln County War. In the process he met with the outlawed William Henry McCarty, also known as Billy the Kid. On March 17, 1879, the pair arranged that the Kid would act as an informant and testify against others involved in the Lincoln County War, and, it has been claimed, that in return the Kid would be "scot free with a pardon in [his] pocket for all [his] misdeeds." According to this account, Wallace, facing the political forces then ruling New Mexico, was unable to come through on his end of the bargain. The Kid returned to his outlaw ways and killed additional men.

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I once heard that Billy met Jesse James, but that appears to be a bit less certain:

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There is indeed a story that the Kid met Jesse James who was going under the alias of Thomas Howard at a restaurant in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Supposedly they ate together and chatted, and during that meeting Jesse invited the Kid to join his gang in which the Kid flatly refused. Robbing banks and trains did not interest him. Rustling cattle was one thing, but armed robbery was entirely another!

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LINK

The chariot race is much better in the original. Let's see how they do that with all of today's special effects.

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Remake of Ben Hur in the works

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Just no.

'59 Ben Hur is one of my top 10 favs...Just a perfect movie in my opinion.
Row well and live!

Judah Ben-Hur - Charlton Heston always played the larger than the screen hero type and was perfect for this role, just like Moses, El Cid etc.

Messala - Stephen Boyd Turned down the James Bond role in 1962 because he had been cast in the Marc Antony role for Cleopatra. Personally I think he would have made a great James Bond more in line with Daniel Craig's version of Bond.

Esther - Haya Harareet Only major member of the cast still living, an Israeli actress hired to play the love interest, they were looking for a Sophia Loren type. Someone to come in and have a major breakthrough.

Quintus Arrius - Jack Hawkins He over powers the screen in many movies, but this is not one of those and his role as Ericson in the Cruel Sea is outstanding work.

Sheik Ilderim - Hugh Griffith simple a person that was larger than life and outstanding actor and person. Another of the WWII Vets severing in India and Burma.

Miriam - Martha Scott Charlton Heston mother in the Ten Commandments also. Heston had on placed in the film.

Tirzah -Cathy O'Donnell William Wyler sister in Law and a fine back up actress, she was dropped by the studio system and was an easy to hire replacement when needed.

Simonides-Sam Jaffe great stage actor who made it in Hollywood and had like many in this movie a very long career in film.

Balthasar-Finlay Currie Another of the legendary British actors in this movie. Ivanhoe to Ben Hur he played the father figure, started out as a song and dance act in the 1890's.

Pontius Pilate-Frank Thring Outstanding British actor who played in many movies including King Aella in the Vikings.

Drusus-Terence Longdon was an up and coming actor who turn to TV in the 60's in England.

Tiberius Caesar-George Relph World War 1 vet and fine stage actor, looked the part of an aged Tiberius

Sextus-André Morell He was Elrond voice in the 1978 LOTR movie, fine charter actor.

Jesus - The Christ-Claude Heater, Never showing his face was one of the keys to the movie.

Chief of Rowers-Robert Brown "Rise oars"

I would say it would be impossible to have a better cast in the roles than the 1959 version.