Looking for an actor who can help Jesus Christ seem likable, producers of the upcoming Ben-Hur remake are courting Tom Hiddleston, hoping he can play the title role of Judah Ben-Hur and lend his on-screen pal Jesus a little reflected charm. As previously reported, MGM and Paramount are creating a new adaptation of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale Of The Christ by emphasizing its parallel Jesus narrative—all under the guidance of The Bible producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, spiritual advisors whose goal is to court the faith-based audience by making it seem like Judah’s buddy Jesus is also pretty interesting. To that end, they’re looking to hire Hiddleston to play the prince-turned-slave-turned-chariot racing champion, hoping to give their Jesus film the personality boost of a man who’s worshipped by millions. Perhaps if they end up working together, Hiddleston can give Jesus some tips on upping his Tumblr presence.
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