Netflix purchases Anthony Hopkins’ new biblical movie ‘Mary’
A new religious epic will be making its way onto Netflix in the near future, with Anthony Hopkins in one of the main roles as King Herod. The movie, Mary, is set to be released some time this year.
Alongside Hopkins, Noa Cohen, who recently appeared in Silent Game, will star as the titular character, who learns that she will be expecting a child through miraculous conception. After the locals find out, she is forced to hide out with Joseph, played by Ido Tako. Yet, when Herod discovers the news that Jesus has been born, who poses a serious threat to his reign, he sets out to have him killed.
Thus, viewers witness Mary, Joseph and the newborn Jesus attempt to find safety from the tyrannical king. It is set to be a thriller, sticking closely to the biblical story. Screenwriter Timothy Michael Hayes, who previously wrote BirdsEye, has spoken to various sources, such as priests and academics, to ensure that he does the story justice.
Meanwhile, the film has been directed by DJ Caruso, known for helming 2007’s Disturbia, 2011’s I Am Number Four, and 2017’s XXX: Return of Xander Cage. While he is no stranger to making thrillers – his latest release was Shut In – the filmmaker has also made Christian films in the past, like Redeeming Love.
This isn’t the first time Hopkins has starred in a biblical-themed movie, either, having appeared in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, portraying Methuselah. He also played Pope Benedict XVI in The Two Popes, demonstrating his interest in movies that are aligned with religious themes.
Alongside Hopkins, Cohen, and Tako, Mary will also star actors such as Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Mila Harris, and Hilla Vidor, according to Variety.
Mary Aloe, whose company Aloe Entertainment will be producing alongside the likes of Luna Film Productions, Peachtree Media Partners, and Ludascripts, shared a statement about the upcoming film.
“I’m thrilled that we are bringing Mary to the world with Netflix, as there is no bigger and better outreach to inspire people globally,” she said. It seems as though the movie will be one of the biggest movies Netflix will release this year, although we’ll have to wait and see whether it will prove to be popular with subscribers.