You might think that Hollywood has given up on sweeping Biblical epics after the so-so results of a movies like “The Nativity,” especially compared to the relatively high box office results of low-budget Christian films like “Fireproof,” but avid readers of screenwriter and feisty patron saint of all things Hollywood Barbara Nicolosi’s blog, confirmed good news last Friday. Nicolosi has been teasing readers for a few months now with tidbits about a project she has been involved in revolving around the life of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. Well, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter made it official when it announced the movie, “Mary, Mother of Christ”–slated to open next Easter season–is going into production soon.
The movie is going to have some major movie star muscle behind it with Camilla Belle (“Push”) playing Mary, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers playing both Gabriel and Lucifer. Peter O’Toole has a role as Simeon and Al Pacino and Jessica Lange are also in discussions to possibly star in the movie. One of the producers, Mary Aloe, told the trades that this movie will cover “Mary’s youth, young love, her life as a new mother and the triumph through the absolute terror of Herod the Great’s reign. It is truly a story of real female empowerment.”
While premature comparisons to “The Passion of the Christ” will be many–especially with “Passion” co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald also attached with a writing credit on “Mary”–I can’t help but take a more personal view of the project. I am one of the hundreds of writing students who have benefited from Barb’s efforts. When she first helmed the Act One writing program in Hollywood ten years ago, many of her own personal writing ambitions were put, at least some degree, on indefinite hold while she focused on the greater good of helping train a new generation of Christian artists ( At least this is my interpretation of the events.)
So Friday’s news is indeed exciting because I think the project holds great promise in the Christian marketplace. It is also an encouraging reminder that God is faithful to turn us toward those desires as well as the spiritual challenge of the price it takes to follow those desires.
posted February 13, 2009 at 3:09 am
I liked The Nativity but that movie was spoilt by the depiction of archangel Gabriel as a very ugly man with a beard. I hope this new movie won’t make the same mistake. Angels are supposed to be beautiful creatures, and also asexual, so no facial hair please!!
posted February 15, 2009 at 2:31 am
There are two versions of mary which one will it be the prostestant version of mary or the catholic?
posted February 15, 2009 at 2:34 am
Which version of this movie well they show the Catholic or Prosteatant. And dont say it the bible version because each faith interupts diffrent.
posted September 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm
To reverse the trick of original sin a Man-god had to be born and suffer greatly to justly undo the break of humans from God. A man had to live perfectly sinless as Adam was and instead of giving into temptations had to offer his life as a man, totally perfect to unbalance the scale of Gods pure Justice. Jesus had to find a loophole in the laws of pure justice.
So how does Mary enter the equation and deserve respect… in the opposite way that Eve is looked on from the fall. She too had to suffer unfairly. Watcher her some innocently slaughtered. And her DNA was spilled on the cross along with Gods to undo Adam and eves sins. They are both the mirror of Adam and Eve. Remember a sword too pierced her heart. She’s not just a normal person in history. There is something special about her over any of us. God call her blessed amonst all woman through Gabriel. Maybe its Time we as Christians think as God does regarding Mary. If she deserved to bare Jesus and the share DNA with God, maybe she deserves a movie too. zJust a thought.
posted December 4, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Check out this helpful resource. This may help shed some light on how we should view Mary as the New Testament does.
I just heard about this production and am kinda of leery about it. Sounds like it will probably be done from a secular perspective, which will seriously damage the holiness of the events in the story. This is quoted from above: “It is truly a story of real female empowerment.” This is NOT AT ALL what God’s word says of this story. There is NO female empowerment here, only the story of God’s sovereignty to lead His son to safety so that His mission can be accomplished. By taking the glory from God and giving it to Mary’s “female empowerment”, this is stripping God of the glory that only He rightly deserves and serves a great danger to the people viewing this message.
Please view this movie with extreme caution. While I also crave to see more biblical accounts making it to the big screen, I don’t want to see them at the expense of the God’s sacred word being mangled to make it more “marketable”. You can take any story and add or subtract to it to make it “better”, but you CAN NOT do that with God’s word (there would be NOTHING in this world that could make the gospel any better). To do so is borderline blashemy and very dangerous. We must always have a healthy fear (reverence)of God because He is holy.
As with everything, study God’s word and He is faithful to grant us discernment over these things. (Romans 12:2).
posted June 21, 2010 at 5:07 pm
hey Maureen listen obviously you are brainwashed by anticatholic protestants! do you know that the Catholic Church was first and put the bible together! This movie is not at all a secular perspective it is a holy Catholic production. Mary is the mother of God and is our mother and she deserves to be honored and loved. The Catholic Church and this film does not say to worship mary since we are only to worship Jesus Christ. but their is nothing wrong with loving and honoring our holy mother without her Jesus Christ would of not been born! if you can honor your mother on earth have pictures of her in your house and even ask her to pray for you why cant we do the same with our even more important holy mother!
Virgin Mary has come to many christians through apparitions and we are to respect and care for her not attack people who love her!
Jesus Christ is always first even when a catholic prays to mary they are praying so she prays to Jesus Christ.
posted June 21, 2010 at 5:09 pm
all of you Christians/Catholics dont use this site its very dangerous for your faith!
posted April 29, 2011 at 10:17 pm
would someone please tell me why casting of this movie didn’t get NATALIE PORTMAN to play Mary????????????????? she’s perfect! jewish, talented and perfect to play mary, mother of christ!!!! NOT CAMILLA BELLE, SHE COULDN’T ACT HER WAY OUT OF A BROWN PAPER BAG!!!!!! She is terrible. She doesn’t deserve to work with AL PACINO!!!! NATALIE DOES!!!!! AND TALENTED!!! BTW, this was supposed to be out in theaters already and has been pushed all the way to 2012??? That says something…. sorry, but it’s not going to finish, not as long as camilla is playing mary. the director needs to wake up and smell the coffee, casting her has nothing but postpone this tragedy. HIRE NATALIE PORTMAN, NOW if you want to save this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!