Is Tom Hiddleston Going to Star in Ben Hur?

The British actor is reportedly being lined up to play the lead in a remake of the 1959 classic starring Charlton Heston

It seems at the moment that every film that is being made is tipped to have Tom Hiddleston in it – and now we can add another one to the list.  

The British actor is already notching up a pretty hefty list of movie credits with CRIMSON PEAK, which he filmed in Toronto, Canada and he is currently shooting HIGH RISE in Belfast.  Hiddleston is then set to jet off to the States to play in a very different type of film that will showcase his vocal skills to play Hank Williams in I SAW THE LIGHT. 

The new film, which the 33-year-old is reportedly adding to his list of projects is in a new MGM and Paramount remake of BEN HUR. If the casting rumours are correct, Hiddleston would be taking on Charlton Heston’s role which was made famous by the Hollywood star in the 1959 classic which won eleven Academy Awards.

With such a busy schedule ahead, it remains to be seen whether Hiddleston will commit to the project, after finding cinematic success as Loki in THOR and THE AVENGERS.  He also starred alongside fellow Brit, Benedict Cumberbatch in THE WAR HORSE. 

For those unfamiliar with the classic, it is set in the 1st Century AD and it tells the story of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur and his feud with Messala, his childhood best friend before the Roman Empire took control of Jerusalem. After Messala has him falsely convicted for attempting to murder the Roman governor, Judah returns to exact revenge, climaxing in the famous chariot scene made famous in the 1959 film. 

The remake of the movie already has a release date of the 26th February 2016, with 12 YEARS A SLAVE screenwriter John Ridley penning the script with The Bible’s Mark Burnett and Roma Downey producing. 

Share your comments below – do you think Tom Hiddleston will make a good job of Ben Hur?

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