A movie described as a “Biblical thriller” about King Herod’s frenzied hunt for the baby Jesus — is due to hit our big screens at Christmas.
It tells the story of the Massacre of the Innocents from the Gospel of Matthew when Herod ordered the killing of all boys under the age of two, born in the Bethlehem area.
That’s after the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, told him that a child destined to become the King of the Jews had been born in the city.
THE STARS OF ‘ZERO A.D.’
The film is called Zero A.D. with Herod ironically and unrecognisably played by Jim Caviezel who was Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.
Three Australians have major roles. Sam Worthington plays Antipater, Herod’s son; Ben Mendelsohn is the Devil; and rising star Jamie Ward is Joseph.
Mary is played by 21-year-old Deva Cassel, the French-Italian top model daughter of European mega stars Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci.
Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal of The Motorcycle Diaries (about Che Guevara) fame plays Mary’s apparent father Joachim, who’s actually never mentioned in the Bible.
WHAT CAN VIEWERS EXPECT IN THE MOVIE?
The script is a closely guarded secret, but prolific faith-based movie producer Angel Studios is promoting the film as about a “brutal ruler fearing a prophecy” and “a desperate mother defying an empire to protect her son.”
Originally announced with the working title Bethlehem, Angel is calling Zero A.D. — by Sound of Freedom director Alejandro Monteverde — its most ambitious production yet, after it was filmed in Morocco last year.
The publicity blurb calls it an “epic that demands to be experienced on the big screen.”
The promotional subtitle is The beginning was almost the end.
‘ZERO A.D.’: THE SYNOPSIS
The studios’ synopsis reads: “Before kings and empires feared Him, a tyrant sought to erase Him.”
“A newborn child ignites a prophetic war. A ruthless prince seeks to crush the prophecy that threatens his father’s rule.”
“And an unlikely mother is forced into the centre of a battle between power and destiny.”
“This is the untold origin of a revolution where faith is tested, courage is forged, and the forces of darkness fight to extinguish the light.”
WILL THE MOVIE BE SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES?
One big question is whether Zero A.D. will be suitable for families or whether it will adopt the realism of The Passion of the Christ which became the highest grossing R-rated movie in history despite its violent scenes.
Zero A.D. is due for cinema release in the US on December 19.
Australian dates are not yet available
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