MGM hopes it can strike gold twice with the same product, as the studio recently announced plans to remake its 11-time Oscar winner BEN-HUR.
The 1959 classic directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston was loosely based on the 1880 Lew Wallace novel BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST. In their announcement, MGM hinted that the film would be less a remake and more a reboot, with a tighter focus on the premise of the original novel.
While the news may prove little comfort to dedicated cinema enthusiasts who abhor Hollywood’s insistence on remaking the classics, MGM seems set on updating its ancient Roman tale of betrayal and friendship.
As of yet, there is no word on a finished script or even a potential director, which suggests the film – if it actually does come to fruition – is in the very early stages of development.
While some may pump their fists in enthusiasm at the idea of a reboot of a classic swords-and-sandals epic, there will likely be more than a few filmgoers left scratching their heads as to the reasoning behind another potentially senseless remake.
Source: Deadline
