Here is an interesting story coming from Variety today (thanks to Coming Soon for the heads up): apparently Adam Cooper (Trump Heist) and Bill Collage (Accepted) have been “short-strawed” by 20th Century Fox to pen the script for an adaptation of the Biblical story of Moses.
Cooper and Collage recently turned in a script to Universal for the big screen story of Herman Meville’s Moby Dick, which is to be directed by Tim Bekmambetov (9, Wanted) and shouldn’t be confused with the recent TV movie project Moby Dick by The Tele Munchen Group.
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The story for the film will apparently follow Moses from infancy, when he was left in a basket in the reeds, to his leading the Jews out of Egyptian slavery and across the Red Sea. Here’s the odd part: the story was pitched to Fox as a 300-esque style movie. I’m not quite sure what that means. Maybe we will see scantily clad Egyptian women, a bare-chested Moses, Jews and Egyptians and a mostly green screen film? Could be but I hope not. Along with Cooper and Collage, Peter Chemin and Dylan Clark will produce and say the film’s story telling style will be more akin to Braveheart.
The last time Hollywood successfully told the story of Moses was in Cecil B. DeMille’s epic 1956 film, The Ten Commandments. It’s some of the finest work from that time period and included Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Ramses. To this day, the special effects of the parting of the Red Sea remain a highlighted recreated attraction on the MGM Backlot Tours.
Cooper and Collage plan to leave in all the Biblical references a lot of people are familiar with, but will also include some additional story points from the Rabbinical Midrash and various historical documents about Moses’ life. This means the telling of the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea will still be in the movie (most likely in 3-D) and should be a special FX bonanza.
Being a Christian and coming from an extensive religious background, I’ve always thought that the stories from the Bible were just ripe for the cinematic picking – if only the proper storytellers got hold of them. The Bible has everything a writer could hope for in a story: greed, sex, lust, war, intrigue, a good guy, a bad guy, a good guy turning bad and a bad guy turning good, magic, occult, angels, demons and much more. There’s even a nod to Woody Allen with the story of Lot and his daughters (if you don’t know it look it up here and to see what I’m talking about). The story of Armageddon and the end of the world has been told numerous times on film, and is vaguely addressed in the upcoming action film, Legion.
I was talking to an atheist friend of mine this morning about the topic of Bible stories being perfect for movies and even though he doesn’t believe in what The Bible preaches, he agrees that the stories are fascinating. We would both love to see a proper version of the stories of David vs. Goliath or the Battle of Jericho brought to life. Even the story of Noah and the Flood could be a lot better than the upcoming 2012.
My only concern is the penchant Hollywood writers have for “updating” their stories to such a degree that it no longer resembles the original tale. A few years back NBC made TV movie about Noah and the flood and it was horrible. Everything about the story was changed – even to the point that someone survived outside the ark on a makeshift raft??? IMHO, if the writers want to tell the story, then they should tell the original story the way they first read it. If they don’t like the ending, then just use the original as inspiration, but please don’t sell it like it’s a “biblical” story.
Another good story to see brought to life would be Jonah and the whale or maybe we’ll see a sequel to the upcoming Moses project where the Jewish people wander the wilderness for forty years. That could be interesting.
Are there any stories from The Bible, Quran, Midrash or other religious texts that you would find interesting to see on the big screen?
Source: Coming Soon, Variety
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23 Comments
I hope they do this right, because its gonna piss off a lot of people if they don’t. But, I’m sure we will end up having some organization boycott the film.
“The Prince of Egypt” a 1998 animated film did a very good job of telling moses’ story.
@Paul Young-You wrote, ” A few years back NBC made TV movie about Noah and the flood and it was horrible. Everything about the story was changed – even to the point that someone survived outside the ark on a makeshift raft???”
They might’ve gotten the idea from, of all people, Gene Roddenberry, who wrote and performed “Letter From A Network Censor” on a college tour that was recorded for inclusion in an album for Columbia Records called “Inside Star Trek”; if so, they failed to catch on that the content of this fake Censor letter was farce of the highest order and not meant to be taken seriously.
Gentlemen-Re: Your script, “The Bible”:
We are concerned with the story’s preoccupation with sex, nudity, and other Television Code violations; we are particularly concerned with your story protagonist,”God”, who seems to us completely unmotivated and rather bloodthirsty. Also, this principal character, as presently written, seems to us highly prejudiced in the favor of a single tribe; we remind you that the Television Code requires equal treatment of Blacks, Asians, Chicanos, American Indians, and other minority groups.
We are equally concerned with the characterization of the principal character’s Son, who is portrayed in wildly inflammatory, revolutionary conduct, which appears to ridicule Wealth, Banking & Loan Advertisers, and the American way of life; his attitudes must be clearly labeled to impressionable young viewers as “reprehensible”.
SPECIFICALLY:
1.Please delete references to God making Woman out of Adam’s rib; this network is an Equal Opportunities Employer, with commitments to Female Equality. Opening sequences are too suggestive…delete language,”…and both were naked”; their subsequent apron of fig leaves will NOT be a suitable garment in the case of the female. Also, the tempting of the female by the serpent seems to have sexual connotations; recommend serpent be substituted with frog or badger.
2.Caution in excessive violence throughout,particularly in the case of God drowning over 99% of Mankind; also, we must question the story logic of having an all-knowing, all-powerful central character who creates faulty humans, and then blames them for His mistakes. In order to make this character more sympathetic, please delete His exhibitions of wrath, and also any indications of a personality insecurity, such as His constant demands for praise. Sons and daughters of Noah cannot be shown & described as repopulating Earth, as the Television Code forbids incestual relationships; recommend a FLEET of Arks, or perhaps strong swimmers from other families can be saved.
3.Delete continual references to “virgins”; such description of the character Mary is acceptable, as a story point, but only if it is clearly indicated that her relationship with main character is totally platonic; otherwise, a marriage ceremony MUST be indicated.
Specifics in the portrayal of their Son:
•He cannot be shown as practicing medicine without a license…
•Delete His biased political views, such as,”Peace at all costs”…
•His mocking of established courts & judicial systems
•And His ridiculing of normal attitudes toward Capitalism, Profit, and the laying-up of treasures.
All of this is further complicated by your description of the character; MUST He be shown as “bearded and barefoot”?
In summary, a rather extensive rewrite seems indicated; it is suggested that the writers be constantly guided by the question, “Is this suitable for Family Hour Viewing?”
Copyright ©1972, Gene Roddenberry
What INK said. The Prince of Egypt took a few artistic liberties (like any adaption would) but made an amazing story and it was a good telling of the story (one of the very few Dreamworks films I actually like).
I feel them re-telling the story after it has already been told time and time again… is there really a need?
I was going to bring up the “Prince of Egypt” as well. A wonderful animated film from Dreamworks. They should really start doing some 2D films. And make them better than their CGI films.
I don’t know about this Fox film being like 300. Doesn’t sound right to me.
@Lencho- Oh, I don’t know…maybe an Egyptian soldier sneaks up behind Moses on Mount Horeb, but Moses kicks him off the mountainside, yelling “THIS…IS…HOREB!!!!”
The word ‘Christian’ mentioned on screenrant. Wow!
Anywho, hope it becomes a great movie.
@Dan Lister
If that is how they went with it, and decided to lie about everything than that is rediculous. You tell the story for a reason, which is the story, not a made up changed revised piece of trash. Some things should be left alone, and if not, then atleast not be tampered with.
@ Dan – Wow bud that was a long comment lol. At no point did I think that was a legitimate complaint letter …lol badger heh
Dang guys I’m sorry I completely forgot about Prince of Egypt. It was a very high quality film. Even the soundtrack was above decent.
@Olu – Is that a good or bad wow? Doesn’t really matter I suppose, cuz I make no apologies for using the word.
Creates faulty humans? If anyone thinks god makes “faulty humans” they must not understand we were created with free will. The whole purpose to life isnt it? Go our own way and find the right path, not be perfect in everyway like a robot.
Aaron-It was a JOKE…Roddenberry was asked to write the sort of letter you’d get from the censors; bear in mind that, in 1972, you couldn’t say the 3-letter word for mule…but today it’s on all shows except The 700 Club
@Paul Young-Myself, I’m leaning towards the frog; Kermit hasn’t had any work in a long while.
@Aaron – it was a parody letter written by Roddenberry. You can’t take any of it as serious. Plus, in order for someone to agree with you about humans being created faulty then they would have to have the same belief system as you and I.
I also Loved The Prince of Egypt.
I would like to see a good movie about Noah.
I suspect my knowledge of the Bible isn’t all that great…I don’t recall any “Blacks, Asians, Chicanos, American Indians” in the Good Book..
@ Paul- Badgers? BADGERS? We don’ need no steenkin’ BADGERS!
(*Runs from room*)
Makes more sense then lol my bad
Awesome article and posts. I laughed at the 300 picture “Let My People Go!!!” I like the badger comment too. hahaha….
Ok, I’ll limit myself to the MOSES story. I’m also a Christian and I’ve tried to see all Biblical movies, and I thinl the REAL last time they told the story of Moses properly was with the animated THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. And I’d love to see somebody dare to adapt the Book of Revelations –the WHOLE book–. Maybe Darren Aronofsky’s up to it?
If we take nothing else away from this, there is always the fact that this bodes well for Aronofsky’s Noah project, which must be made NOW.
The Ten Commandments is one of my fave films of all time. Or maybe that should be one of my fave bible-based films of all time.
I would be all over the story of Jezebel being shown on the big screen. Sexual immorality, betrayal, murder, and ‘accidentally’ falling off a window ledge, what more could one ask for?
@Dan Lister
Thanks for posting that letter, it made my morning. Also liked the ‘Saddles’ reference, ah happy days.
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