While Timur Bekmambetov and the team making the new Ben-Hur already tried unsuccessfully to secure the services of one actress from a Zack Snyder superhero film (Gal Gadot, who had to pass due to her Wonder Woman schedule), they appear to be closer to another**. Man Of Steel.
Taken once again from Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel, the new version aims to chronicle the younger days of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) and Messala (Toby Kebbell), best friends growing up in Jerusalem. Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince and Messala the son of a Roman tax collector who is packed off to be educated in Rome for five years. Upon his return, Messala mocks our hero for his religion and, after an accident he pins on his friend, has him sold into slavery. Cue a quest for revenge that includes (in the 1959 Charlton Heston film, at any rate) the iconic chariot race.
Morgan Freeman is already aboard to play Ildarin, the man who teaches Ben-Hur how to be a master at the reins for the races. As for Zurer, she’ll be back on Hero’s Mother duty, playing Naomi, Ben-Hur’s mum. Keith Clarke wrote the original script, which John Ridley has since re-written.
Zurer has a role in the Marvel Netflix Daredevil series, due next year and will also be seen opposite Ewan McGregor in historical adventure Last Days In The Desert.