Who will step into Charlton Heston's big beard?
It seems like it was only a matter of time. What makes more sense than Steven Spielberg directing a good old-fashioned Bible story?
Deadline reports that Spielberg is close to making a deal with Warner Brother to direct “Gods and Kings,” a new version of the Old Testament story of Moses. Stuart Hazeldine and Michael Green wrote the script. The tale was famously told onscreen in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 epic “The Ten Commandments.” (There is really no way to deal with Moses without the word “epic” being included.)
Word is that this film will be far from the shiny Technicolor melodrama of the DeMille film, though–the idea is for Spielberg to make the “Saving Private Ryan” of Bible films, a gritty, realistic depiction of the Jews fight to escape the Egyptians. “Braveheart” is also being referenced. Look for dust, dirt, blood, oh, and plagues.
Spielberg is finishing up “Lincoln” and is already at work on “Robopocalypse.” The plan is to get “Gods and Kings” into production in March/April of 2013.
The Bible is so hot in Hollywood right now. In addition to this one, Warner Brothers is also developing a film about Judah Maccabee with Mel Gibson and Darren Aronofsky is working on a Noah movie. Any day now you’ll hear about a “Samson and Delilah” remake.
