Gal Gadot In Talks For Ben-Hur

And Game Of Thrones' Pedro Pascal may be Pontius Pilate

Though her Justice League duties – including the long-awaited solo Wonder Woman film that has just been confirmed – will keep her busy in the coming years, Gal Gadot isn’t just relying on superhero work to push her career along. She’s now in talks for a lead role in Ben Hur .

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 before the Roman Empire takes over. 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, he 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 culminates (in the 1959 Charlton Heston film, at any rate) in 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. If she makes a deal, Gadot will be Esther, a female slave that wins Ben-Hur’s heart. And she’s not the only person circling a role. Game Of Thrones’ Pedro Pascal in in talks to play Pontius Pilate, who is expected to have a bigger role in this version of the story.

Timur Bekmambetov is the director chosen by MGM and Paramount to wrangle the new take to the screen, working from a script that was most recently re-written by John Ridley. Ben-Hur is currently scheduled to arrive here on February 19, 2016.

from Empire News