We are in the midst of a Christian film renaissance, if you will.War Room,God’s Not Dead(the first one, not the sequel),Son of God, andMiracles from Heavenare recent examples of works that performed surprisingly well at the box office. Then you factor in Fox’s live performance ofThe Passion, and there’s clearly an audience for these types of entertainment. Continuing the growth of this specific genre is a film about Mary Magdalene, and today brings word thatJoaquin Phoenixis being eyed to portray Jesus Christ oppositeRooney Maraas the titular Biblical character.
A variety of actors have portrayed Jesus on screen, includingChristian Bale(Mary, Mother of Jesus),Claude Heater(Ben-Hur),Max von Sydow(The Greatest Story Ever Told), andWillem Dafoe(The Last Temptation of Christ), though this would be a first for Phoenix.Deadlinereports that a deal with Phoenix forMary Magdaleneis still far off, but with or without him, production is scheduled to begin this summer ahead of an anticipated 2017 release.
The actor was last seen on film inWoody Allen’sIrrational Man,Paul Thomas Anderson’sInherent Vice, andSpike Jonze’sHer, the latter of which was too good for the Oscars to ignore despite Phoenix’s constant denouncement of them. Marvel tried to get him forDoctor StrangebeforeBenedict Cumberbatchlanded the gig, but he dropped out of discussions. In short, he’d be a significant get for the film.
Mary Magdaleneis a bit of surprising update for Phoenix, as well. The actor has been outspoken about his atheist beliefs in the past. In the 2008 issue of Nylon Guys magazine (viaThe Good Atheist: Living a Purpose-filled Life Without God), he said:
I don’t believe in god. I don’t believe in an afterlife. I don’t believe in soul. I don’t believe in anything. I think it’s totally right for people to have their own beliefs if it makes them happy, but to me it’s a pretty preposterous idea.
This echoed a previous comment he made to the U.K.’s Sunday Times: “I’m not into organized religion…For me, I believe in a God of whatever my own thing is.” If he still maintains these beliefs, I’d be interested to hear how the producers are pitching the subject matter.
