Ben-Hur Remake Gets Its First Trailer

Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for its upcoming remake of Oscar-winning 1959 classic ‘Ben-Hur’.

Watch it above.

Starring Jack Huston as the title character previously played by Charlton Heston, this swords and sandal epic tells the story of a slave embarking on a quest of revenge.

- Directors Who Were Fired On Set
- Hollywood’s Most Cursed Movie Roles
- The Moment Movie Franchises Jumped The Shark

The trailer, set to a jarringly modern rock soundtrack, opens with a sea battle that destroys a slave ship, inadvertently freeing Huston’s Ben-Hur. Morgan Freeman’s character Ilderim offers his help as title character runs us through the film’s plot.

Messala (played by Toby Kebbell) betrayed and killed Ben-Hur’s family. The twist this time being that the villain isn’t Hur’s friend, but his brother. Of course, there will be a climatic chariot race as well.

‘Ben-Hur’ is thought of as an untouchable classic, but Heston’s 1959 film was itself a remake of a 1925 silent film, but it went on to win an incredible eleven Oscars. All three ‘Ben-Hur’ films are adaptations too, of an 1880 novel.

We’re not saying this is set to dominate next year’s Academy Awards, but let’s not immediately dismiss it either.

Directed by ‘Wanted’s Timur Bekmambetov, except a distinct visual style from this modern take on a classic story. Its trailer may be reminiscent of the likes of ‘Hercules’ and ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’, but here’s hoping ‘Ben-Hur’ is a remake worthy of what came before it.

‘Ben-Hur’ is set for release on 26 August 2016.

- Plot Ideas For Indiana Jones 5
- Fans Suggest Funny Indy 5 Plots
- The Weird Truth Behind Indiana Jones’ Maguffins

Picture Credits: Paramount Pictures