New Line wasn't kidding around when they planned to fast track Nativity. What's more, it would seem that an Oscar nomination is a real plus if you're interested in being a member of the cast.
Hollywood Reporter announced that Shohreh Aghdashloo, nominated for an Oscar for her role in House of Sand and Fog, is close to signing on to play Elizabeth in New Line's movie about the lives of Jesus' parents Mary and Joseph. According to the Biblical recounting, Elizabeth was Mary's cousin and the mother of John the Baptist.
As an Iranian born actress she seems a smart match to play a Middle Eastern woman. On the other hand, it might have been fun to see what the makeup department would have done to Julia Roberts to make her fit the part. Prosthetic noses and eye-color changing contacts are all the rage in Hollywood these days.
Aghdashloo would be joining Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes who will play Mary. Lords of Dogtown helmer Catherine Hardwicke is directing and Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are signed on to produce. I'm not sure how I feel about the man who helped bring us Aliens vs. Predator (Godfrey) heading up a Biblical drama. The only bright side to that is we might get to see Lance Henriksen playing King Herod.
