If you've ever watched 1959's Charlton Heston classic Ben-Hur and found yourself wondering what it might look like with CG horses and ramped up set pieces set to clanging guitars, the trailer for the new take, starring Jack Huston, has the answer.
Lew Wallace's novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ has been brought to screens a few times, most famously in that Oscar-Winning 1959 Heston version, directed by William Wyler. But its history hasn't deterred Timur Bekmambetov, who has crafted the latest attempt.
As is standard, this is the story of Judah Ben-Hur (Huston), a prince who is falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. He's separated from the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi's Esther) and thrown into slavery, where he spends the next five years. But then the Roman galley he's aboard is shipwrecked and he finds himself with a chance at revenge, helped by wisdom and training from Morgan Freeman's Ilderim. And he gets his big chance during a chariot race. Because what's a Ben-Hur without chariot racing?
With Rodrigo Santoro, Pilou Asbaek and Moises Arias also in the cast, Ben-Hur will be out on August 26.