'Ben-Hur' 2016 movie releases: A new take on Jesus' story

The new "Ben-Hur" film is out, and looks to take the original classic a step further and effect a deeper involvement of Jesus Christ in its main characters' stories. The film devotes more time to the life of Christ compared to previous Ben-Hur films, and that is something that will delight Christians flocking to theaters across the globe to see the movie.

"Ben-Hur," a joint endeavor of MGM and Paramount, is directed by Timur Bekmambetov ("Wanted"), and produced by Mark Burnett ("Survivor") and Roma Downey ("Touched by an Angel").

In an interview with CBN News, Downey said, "I think that one of the most interesting things about Ben-Hur is that you have this fictional story, set at this time in Jerusalem and it gives a real historical and political context to the world in which Jesus was born, a very complicated time."

The film is about the life of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a first century Jewish prince who was betrayed by his brother Messala (Toby Kebbell). Messala sent Ben-Hur to toil in slavery and the latter returned to avenge his family's death.

"(It was) a time of great civil unrest, and in injustice and heartache and hurt for an enormous amount of people and we are following the journey of these two brothers, Judah and Messala and we literally just kind of bump into Jesus in the market place," Downey added.

Nazanin Boniadi, who plays Esther in the movie, told CBN News that the film is relevant to the present day where there is so much hate and negativity. She quoted Martin Luther King and said, "Darkness doesn't drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate doesn't drive out hate. Only love can do that. This film is about love conquering hate."

"Ben-Hur" is based on one of the world's best-selling novels, "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ" by Lew Wallace. The book has captured readers since its publication in 1880 and has been translated into over 40 languages, according to CBN. 

It is no wonder that the current remake is already the third of its kind. The most popular of which is the 1959 version which starred the late Charlton Heston and made movie history with 11 Academy Awards.

In an article on Word on Fire, Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word On Fire Catholic Ministries said, "To tell a tale of Christ is to tell a tale of grace. This, I believe, is what Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, who have emerged as two of the more effective evangelists in the world today, wanted us to see in this updated Ben-Hur."

"Ben-Hur" hits theaters on Aug. 19.