The Bible bandwagon is loose and it’s rolling down the hill at top speed. At this rate, anyone who gets a mention in the Good Book will soon be the subject of a film. Still, Pontius Pilate is one of the more noteworthy – and controversial – figures to crop up, so it’s perhaps not shocking that Warner Bros. has bought a script about him to develop.
Woman On Top writer Vera Blasi has penned the screenplay, which will track more of Pilate’s life than just his decision about Jesus’ fate. Born the sensitive son of a Roman warrior, he grows up to become a ferocious soldier who heads towards politics under Emperor Tiberius. When he’s promised a military governorship, he doesn’t get the posting in Egypt he craves, but is instead assigned to become prefect of Judea, putting him on a collision course with Biblical history.
Blending Roman / Jewish history, political manoeuvring, Biblical details and some fictional material, Blasi’s script includes the likes of Caligula, John The Baptist, Salome and Mary Magdalene. Everyone involved had better hope it ends up getting made, lest the headlines read "Warners washes hands of Pilate"...
The screenplay’s being worked on now, and the studio is talking to directors. This one joins a long list of Biblical titles in development, including Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, Will Smith’s planned Cain and Abel film, Warners’ own** Gods And Kings** and Paul Verhoeven’s even more controversial pic about Jesus.