Making movies based on religious material is always an interesting proposition. While there are millions interested in the subject matter, it can also be somewhat divisive. Take, for example, the new movie about Jesus' most well-known female follower, Mary Magdalene. It's probably destined to be controversial, but the filmmakers behind it seem to be trying balance the scales by building the greatest cast they can. Chiwetel Ejiofor is reportedly up for a role in the new film that would see him playing Peter, the most well known of Jesus' apostles.
The planned film will follow the life of Mary Magdalene, one of the female followers of Jesus Christ. Rooney Mara will play the title role, while Joaquin Phoenix will portray Jesus. Now, The Wrap is reporting that Chiwetel Ejiofor is in talks to take the role of Peter. In Roman Catholicism, Peter is recognized as the first Pope, making him a major figure in modern western Christianity. Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of the hottest actors working today, making him a great choice for the role. His career now spans every sort of movie imaginable. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in 12 Years a Slave. He'll also be playing Baron Mordo in Marvel's Doctor Strange later this year.
It's unknown at this time exactly what sort of a story the Mary Magdalene film is planning on telling. The character of Mary has been a controversial one throughout the centuries. In the middle ages, she was portrayed as a reformed prostitute, though none of the official books of the Bible actually refer to her in that way. In popular culture, Mary has been portrayed as one of Jesus' closest followers, going so far as to make her a romantic partner of his in such films as The Last Temptation of Christ and The Da Vinci Code.
At this point, it appears that Chiwetel Ejiofor is only in talks for the role of Peter, so time will tell whether or not he winds up signing on the dotted line. With Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix playing the two leads, and Chiwetel Ejiofor also in the mix, it would appear that the filmmakers are trying to put together a diverse cast for the film. It should make for a unique telling of this well-known story, and could potentially be a crossover hit if played right.
A Mary Magdalene movie is bound to have a very different perspective on the events of the Bible. Are you interested in seeing it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
