When Mel Gibson was seeking a distributor for his Passion of the Christ he might as well have been trying to pitch gun control legistlation to the NRA membership. Of course, Hollywood's money-over-art mentality turned a hypocritical 180 degree turn in the light of Passion's massive financial success.

In light of that change of heart (if you can call that rotting wad of cash and the center of Hollywood a heart) New Line Cinema is busy pulling together a Biblical film of their own, but this time they're focusing on the lives of Jesus' parents. The script, penned by Finding Forrester writer Mike Rich, was optioned by New Line earlier this year.

Nativity will follow the lives of Mary and Joseph prior to the birth of Jesus. Lords of Dogtown director Catherine Hardwicke has signed up to helm the project and casting news has begun to flow.

According to Empire Online, Oscar nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) has been cast to play Mary. The 16 year old actress is the age most historians believe Mary to have been at the time Jesus was born.

The movie is being fast tracked for a December release (read, just in time for a massive Christmas marketing blitz). The story of the two characters could be compelling if done well, but in the light of Hollywood's tendency to take a good thing and ruin it in the name of making a quick buck I'm not holding my breath.