Paul Verhoeven's Jesus of Nazareth

[Project862006]

Paul Verhoeven's Jesus of Nazareth

EXCLUSIVE: As Darren Aronofsky’s Noah gets ready to set sail and iconic directors Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg forge ahead with epics about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, faithful Biblical epics are flourishing in Hollywood. It looks like there is even room for one that takes the most controversial look at the life of Jesus Christ since Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ.
I’m told that Muse Productions’ Chris Hanley, whose credits include American Psycho, has stepped up to finance development of a film about Christ. It will be based on Jesus of Nazareth, a book that director Paul Verhoeven co-wrote after immersing himself in the history and researching the subject for nearly two decades. Verhoeven plans to direct the film, which will be written by Roger Avary. Avary shared the Academy Award for Best Original Script with Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction.

Verhoeven’s take on the life of Jesus Christ discounts all of the miracles that inform the New Testament. That includes the immaculate conception, and the resurrection. Verhoeven doesn’t believe any of them happened. I wrote about Verhoeven’s ambitions in spring, 2011 as he and his reps at ICM first tried to find funding, no small feat given some of the theories he put forth in the book. The most controversial: that Jesus might have been the product of his mother being raped by a Roman soldier, which Verhoeven said was commonplace at the time, and that Jesus was a radical prophet who performed exorcisms and was convinced he would find the kingdom of Heaven on earth, and did not know he would be sentenced to die on the cross by Pontius Pilate. That, and the discounting of the miracles that pepper the New Testament, has made this a daunting project to set up. But while Verhoeven’s film credits include Showgirls (as well as hits like Robocop, Total Recall and Basic Instinct) he isn’t trying to tantalize here. He is fixated on Christ not for the miracles depicted in the blockbuster film The Passion Of The Christ, but rather in the enduring power of the message Christ preached which have kept him first and foremost in the minds of Christians for 2000 years. Verhoeven feels too many take Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins as a free pass to misbehave, because they think they don’t have to take responsibility for their actions. He feels that the value of Christ’s journey is the opportunity to emulate his life and the values he held dear, like forgiveness.

“If you look at the man, it’s clear you have a person who was completely innovative in the field of ethics,” Verhoeven told me last year. “My own passion for Jesus came when I started to realize that. It’s not about miracles, it’s about a new set of ethics, an openness towards the world, which was anathema in a Roman-dominated world. I believe he was crucified because they felt that politically, he was a dangerous person whose following was getting bigger and bigger. Jesus’ ideals are about the utopia of human behavior, about how we should treat each other, how we should step into the shoes of our enemy.”

http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/pau...-writer-for-controversial-jesus-christ-movie/

 

[Abudefduf]

The most controversial: that Jesus might have been the product of his mother being raped by a Roman soldier, which Verhoeven said was commonplace at the time

If he really makes a movie about this, I bet Christians from all over the world will go Roman soldier on his ass.

 

[Coca Cola Duracell Franklin.]

Sounds like the guy doesn't have a clue.

 

[Dangerman]

Speaking as a Christian myself I will not be seeing this movie or even give it a second thought. It is his Gid given right to believe what he wants to believe and if he chooses to make a movie about just like it is a Christian God given right to do the same. I am just going to stay far away from it and this thread about the movie.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Now this sounds interesting. Especially with Verhoeven attached. It just reminds me I still need to see The Last Temptation of Christ.

 

[Rowsdower!]

It's kinda funny though... I think that he does raise a valid point about Christianity here. I personally believe Jesus is God, however, I do agree with Verhoeven that a lot of Christians act as though they have a free pass to just be A-holes in this lifetime because they think they've got it made in the afterlife.

Sounds like it could be an interesting movie, regardless of what you believe. Still, my only issue with it is that it's Verhoeven, really. He's one of those directors that challenges the mainstream a good bit (even when he's making mainstream movies) but something like this might be beyond his ability as a filmmaker.

 

[cherokeesam]

Verhoeven feels too many take Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins as a free pass to misbehave, because they think they don’t have to take responsibility for their actions.

That's funny, because that's *exactly* the opposite of what Christianity has taught people for 2000 years.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

not a huge verhoeven aficionado, but this concept intrigues me, I also can't wait to see the Christian backlash to this lmao.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Sounds interesting. Maybe I'll see this and buy the souvenir T-shirt that says Yeah, I saw this movie. What you gonna do about it, you ****?! I still have the one I bought at a screening of Von Trier's Antichrist.

 

[Tanin]

This is going to be a fun movie

 

[Speedball]

Sounds awesome. I love "what if" stories. If you can't question your own beliefs and faith, then what's the point? Blindly believing everything that was written after it happened is just illogical, at least to me.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I think questioning religion is a good thing and healthy for any open society, look at the society's where you can't. As long as he is not saying this is the "definitive version" of what happened (since no one really knows the true story) then its fair game.

ps. for those who really have true "faith" a movie should be of no consequence.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I think questioning religion is a good thing and healthy for any open society, look at the society's where you can't. As long as he is not saying this is the "definitive version" of what happened (since no one really knows the true story) then its fair game.

LOL, I just got an image in my mind of the production company doing a marketing campaign for this similar to that King Arthur movie with Clive Owen or Robin Hood with Russell Crowe.

YOU'VE READ HIS WORDS. YOU'VE HEARD THE LEGEND. BUT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE TRUE STORY.

THIS SUMMER...

JESUS BEGINS: RISE OF THE SON

 

[Tanin]

I want a part where Lazarus and Jesus are talking to each other on how he is going to fake his death. I wonder how he'll have them fake it in the film.

 

[Ajendo]

It's kinda funny though... I think that he does raise a valid point about Christianity here. I personally believe Jesus is God, however, I do agree with Verhoeven that a lot of Christians act as though they have a free pass to just be A-holes in this lifetime because they think they've got it made in the afterlife.

Fair enough but there's nothing to suggest that people have it made in the afterlife. As a christian myself, I believe Jesus was fully man and simultaneously fully God (as part of the trinity) however, I do believe Jesus did die for us so that God could give us all a chance, as back then we as a human race had pissed God off to no end but even then, that's not to say our asses our covered. We still have to behave and act accordingly. All our sins are accounted for and forgiveness from God comes from genuineness and sincerity from the heart.

Sounds like it could be an interesting movie, regardless of what you believe. Still, my only issue with it is that it's Verhoeven, really. He's one of those directors that challenges the mainstream a good bit (even when he's making mainstream movies) but something like this might be beyond his ability as a filmmaker.

I agree with this and I also agree with caramelpopcorn. Verhoeven spent over 2 decades doing what research exactly? The best he can come up with is the obvious, basic and fundamental nature of what Christ preached. What ever Verhoeven "discovered" kids find out the general over view in less than 60minutes at freakin' Sunday school. However, I'm interested to see what he comes up with. Needless to say it'll be interesting.

 

[Ajendo]

That's funny, because that's *exactly* the opposite of what Christianity has taught people for 2000 years.

Exactly!

 

[Destructus86]

No thanks.

Now if they made a movie based on the short webisode that involved the Terminator being sent back to protect Jesus I would be all for it.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I hope this is dark and gritty and takes on the life of a franchise.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Sounds interesting.

I enjoy it when anyone outwardly challenges the notion of the "magical, mystery man in the sky."

 

[The Sarge]

I'm actually really intrigued. And I completely agree that the bible is truly about ethics- not miracles. It's the most important thing to take from the book.
I would almost say this film MUST be made.

No thanks.

Now if they made a movie based on the short webisode that involved the Terminator being sent back to protect Jesus I would be all for it.

I think that's a MadTV skit you're referencing.

 

[Airwings]

Another Jesus movie. Christ, haven't they milked the last out of this story?
Why can't we get some new bible stories? The book is filled with great story archs, yet we get the same over and over and over.
The only part of Jesus' life I want to see right now, is when he's a boy and talks to the priests in the temple. And other things about his childhood.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I still wish someone would do a film adaptation of Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. That would be so much fun.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Jesus Begins

 

[Doctor Jones]

Another Jesus movie. Christ, haven't they milked the last out of this story?
Why can't we get some new bible stories? The book is filled with great story archs, yet we get the same over and over and over.
The only part of Jesus' life I want to see right now, is when he's a boy and talks to the priests in the temple. And other things about his childhood.

Dude, other than Passion of the Christ, how many mainstream made Jesus films have you seen recently?

 

[Project862006]

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