REEL BUZZ: Joel Osteen-Produced Film ‘Mary Mother of Christ’ Cast Details Emerge
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 9:57AM 
It was announced back in May that Lakewood pastor Joel Osteen had joined forces with Aloe Entertainment to executive produce a biblical film, Mary, Mother of Christ. Go inside to learn more details about the stellar cast.
Though the movie is still in the pre-production and casting stages, with shooting set to take place in Italy, Jordan and British Columbia, Christian Post is reporting that honorary Academy Award-winning actor Peter O'Toole is postponing his retirement for a lead role in the Mary Mother of Christ movie.
The Irish actor, who achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, is set to take on the role of Simeon, who blessed Jesus as a baby according to the biblical account recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
The Alister Grierson-directed film is also said to have captured the attention of Sir Ben Kingsley for the role of King Herod.
Odeya Rush has been cast as Mary and Julia Ormond is set to play the role of Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin.
The story, written by Barbara Nicolosi and Benedict Fitzgerald, who also co-wrote The Passion of the Christ with Mel Gibson, focuses on Mary’s passionate defiance of the King in order to save her son, Jesus.
Mary, Mother of Christ is described by some as a prequel to Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ which grossed $600 million worldwide.
Lionsgate is planning a wide release of the film, along with a marketing campaign to engage the faith community—a strategic move involving producer and Texas pastor Joel Osteen.
Does Mary, Mother of Christ sound like a faith-based film you may be interested in seeing?
Reader Comments (2)
I am definitely interested!
This sounds great! I was really moved by The Passion of the Christ, it was soooo good so I look forward to seeing Mary, Mother of Christ!