The Times is running a story whose main idea is that Hollywod has started looking around for the next film capable of doing boffo Passion of the Christ style. The only specific projects in the pipeline, however, appear to be a film version of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and a Book of Revelations TV show.
Consider, however, this line from the article: "Mr. Guber said that reaction to that movie's success was butting up against the feelings of many in Hollywood who dislike its widely criticized portrayal of Jewish responsibility in the death of Jesus."
It seems to me that there's plenty of room here for some what-cha-ma-call-it projects. Synergy. The Old Testament is a pretty big book, after all.
- Exodus never gets old.
- Cain and Abel with some Matrix-style FX? Killer.
- There ever been a good movie version of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac? I don't think so.
- All that Garden of Eden business with the Biblically-endorsed nudity is guaranteed to pack in the teenage demo.
- The Babylonian Captivity. I'm sure Mel could do it like Braveheart, with plenty of gore.
- That Isaiah sure was a fun guy, huh?