Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religious Music & Entertainment
Ben-Hur news round-up: The world premiere in Mexico City, a 360° video of the chariot race, and some Xbox reviews

Ben-Hur news round-up: The world premiere in Mexico City, a 360° video of the chariot race, and some Xbox reviews

Last updated on: August 11, 2016 at 9:54 am by Peter T. Chattaway

Ben-Hur news round-up: The world premiere in Mexico City, a 360° video of the chariot race, and some Xbox reviews 2016-08-11T09:54:14-07:00 Peter T. Chattaway

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ben-Hur opens next week, and more and more news stories are rolling in.

The film had its world premiere in Mexico on Tuesday night (see the videos below).

The studio released a second clip from the chariot race, as well as a brief featurette on Morgan Freeman’s performance as Ilderim and a 22-minute making-of video.

The film is now rated 12A in the UK, PG in Ontario and 14A in British Columbia.

The film is only 125 minutes long — the shortest live-action version of this story since the original short film came out in 1907. The 1925 film runs 143 minutes, the 1959 film runs 212 minutes, and the 2010 miniseries runs 180 minutes without commercials.

Variety has a detailed story on the making and marketing of the film:

“After the summer we’ve had, you can’t take anything for granted,” says Paramount’s worldwide marketing chief Megan Colligan, referring to a crowded landscape littered with costly flops. That may explain why the studio had spent only 4% of its “Ben-Hur” marketing budget by the time “Star Trek Beyond” opened, despite delaying the originally scheduled February release. “We did some early testing, which revealed that there were people who thought they knew ‘Ben-Hur,’ but when you asked them further questions, you realized they were confusing it with ‘The Ten Commandments,’” Colligan says.

Personally inspired by the passing of Nelson Mandela in 2013, screenwriter Keith Clarke went looking for a story with a message of truth and reconciliation, and latched onto Civil War general Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel, “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ,” which he adapted on spec. As Clarke puts it, “It’s the story of three men at the crossroads of history. One chooses power and greed, one chooses revenge, and one chooses the path of peace and forgiveness. Only one survives.”

Incidentally, the three men are Messala, Judah, and Jesus. Guess who survives.

The Wall Street Journal has a story (and a video) on the making of the chariot race:

The filmmakers planted GoPro cameras on chariots and people. “We had a camera on a soccer ball, sort of sitting in the middle of the track while the horses run over it,” says Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM’s film division. “This film, with all the emotion, really had the structure of a sports film, an underdog sports movie.” . . .

The race scene in 2016 runs about 10 minutes, almost exactly the same as in the prior films, though it comes closer to the end of the movie this time. . . .

Jonathan Stamp, a historian who had consulted on the HBO/BBC series “Rome,” advised on chariot design. The chariots in the 1959 film were unrealistically ornate.

“The previous movie was made in the time of Cadillacs,” Mr. Bekmambetov says. Here, they’re no frills and built for speed. “It’s like a bench with wheels, It took time for our stunt guys and actors to learn to drive them. You’re not really protected and you need to figure out how to balance.”

Deutsche Welle got a soundbite from producer Sean Daniel:

“Our ‘Ben Hur’ should not be seen as a remake of Wyler’s film, but as a new film adaptation of the 1880 novel by Lew Wallace,” explained producer Sean Daniel, “Co-screenwriter John Ridley has focused on family relations and the power of faith and, in particularly, reconciliation. The original, on the other hand, focused on revenge.”

Esquire spoke to Jack Huston, who plays Judah Ben-Hur:

“We shot at Cinecittà Studios in Rome,” he says. “My granddad shot a couple movies there.” Huston also discovered that some of the crew were related to crewmembers from the original production. “There were guys telling me stories about their fathers working on the last one.” . . .

Before bounding out of the lobby to see an early cut of The Yellow Birds just up the street, he reveals that he’s already screened Ben-Hur twice. Actors tend to downplay their excitement, thinking it’s professional to do so. But Huston, refreshingly, can’t contain his. “It’s mad,” he says of the film. “It’s amazing. Like, it’s a proper, proper, proper movie, man. I was like, ‘This. Is. Why. We. Make. Movies. This is what gets me jazzed.’ ”

Various Philippine outlets have posted this story on Rodrigo Santoro, who plays Jesus:

“As soon as I met Rodrigo, it was clear he was the right actor,” recalls Bekmambetov. “He has a God-given talent – Rodrigo can play this spiritual figure while still coming across as the boy next door.”

“Rodrigo was a perfect choice to play Jesus,” comments producer Roma Downey. “He’s got strength, kindness and depth.” . . .

Santoro undertook a physical and mental regime to prepare for the role. He spent a lot of time practicing yoga, meditation, and adopted a strict, cleansing diet.

“I tried to connect to what I truly felt about this man because I had to play Jesus,” Santoro continues. “How do I understand, as deeply as possible, this person and everything he represents? I wanted to create a portrait of the man behind the myth. I wanted to make him relatable without sacrificing any of his teachings, his aura, his spirituality and everything that was so unique about him. It was the most challenging thing I have ever done.”

The Gospel Herald spoke to executive producer Roma Downey:

Downey explains the significance of this subtle scene, “I think for so many of us Christians, there have been so many opportunities where we have stood in front of the cross, and we have dropped the stones, the stone of disappointment, stone of anger, stone of bitterness, whatever the stone is that each of us might be carrying in our lives there is always a chance to kneel in front of the cross and let that go.”

100 Huntley Street in Toronto interviewed Downey via Skype:

Sway’s Universe interviewed Huston (warning: a bit of NSFW language):

The Talk also interviewed Huston:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fno12DzIjAc

Downey took part in a 44-minute Spanish webcast just a few hours before the film’s premiere in Mexico City, along with Marcos Witt and Wilfredo De Jesus:

The Associated Press spoke to Morgan Freeman and Jack Huston on the red carpet:

The film’s Facebook page live-streamed the Mexico premiere (it doesn’t get started until the 16-minute mark, and the first interview is at the 50-minute mark):

Roma Downey will get her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 11:30am today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihVEViqmJU4

Paramount posted a 360° video of the chariot race (who’s holding the reins!?):

Paramount posted a behind-the-scenes featurette on Andra Day’s music video:

And finally, Paramount released a free Xbox game based on the film’s chariot race — and a lot of game sites have called it “bad”, “advergame rubbish” and “a shoddy movie tie-in that’s technically functional but in no way good”. Your mileage may vary.

Check out earlier trailers and other videos here:

The first domestic and international trailers, the ‘Welcome to ShareBenHur.com’ video, and the Entertainment Tonight promo (March 16, 2016)
The ‘Epic Faith’ trailer (March 23, 2016)
The ‘Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus’ featurette (March 25, 2016)
The second faith-based trailer (June 8, 2016)
The Entertainment Tonight reports (June 11, 2016)
The ‘Chariot Race’ featurette and Entertainment Tonight report (June 13, 2016)
The ‘Epic’ featurette (July 6, 2016)
The ‘Ceasefire’ music video (July 13, 2016)
The ‘Revolution’, ‘Spark’, ‘Legend’ and ‘Combo’ TV spots (July 18, 2016)
The ‘Back to You’ music video (July 21, 2016)
The second domestic and international trailer (July 25, 2016)
The ‘Jesus the Carpenter’, ‘Jesus Helps Judah’, ‘Jesus Protects the Leper’, ‘Judah and Esther’ and ‘Jesus’ Crucifixion’ clips (July 26, 2016)
The ‘Ceasefire’ worship video, the Jack Huston interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the ‘Defy an Empire’ TV spot (August 1, 2016)
The ‘The Only Way Out’ music video, the ‘Andra Day BTS’ featurette, and the ‘Rise’, ‘Greatest’ and ‘Revolution’ TV spots (August 2, 2016)
The ‘You Should Have Killed Me’ clip (August 4, 2016)
The AOL Build, WSVN News and Movieguide interviews, the Morgan Freeman interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the living poster (August 8, 2016)
The ‘Chariot Race’ clip (August 8, 2016)
The ‘Morgan Freeman’ featurette (August 10, 2016)
The ‘Ben-Hur: A Tale of Forgiveness’ making-of video (August 10, 2016)

Previous Post

August 10, 2016

Watch: A 22-minute video on the making of Ben-Hur

Next Post

August 13, 2016 Prophet Joseph -- episodes thirty-one and thirty-two

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anglican Planet Articles BC Christian News BC Report Bible Movies Bible Review Blog Books & Culture Campus Times CBC Radio Christianity Today ChristianWeek Essays Faith Today Festival Cinemas Guide Film Journals Georgia Straight Interviews MB Herald National Catholic Register Salvationist Today's Christian Two Chairs Ubyssey Uncategorized Vancouver Courier Vancouver Sun

Select a Month August 2025 April 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 May 2024 February 2024 December 2023 May 2023 March 2023 November 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 January 2012 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 November 2003 October 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 March 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 January 2000 October 1999 August 1999 May 1999 April 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 August 1998 July 1998 June 1998 April 1998 March 1998 January 1998 November 1997 September 1997 July 1997 June 1997 April 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 October 1996 September 1996 June 1996 March 1996 February 1996 January 1996 April 1995 November 1994 September 1994 September 1991

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How did Jesus die?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Spearing Stoning Hanging Crucifixion