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.
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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!!
There are two versions of mary which one will it be the prostestant version of mary or the catholic?
Which version of this movie well they show the Catholic or Prosteatant. And dont say it the bible version because each faith interupts diffrent.
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.
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).
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