Will ‘Risen’ Live Up to Its Bible Movie Hype?
Twelve years after the blockbuster film about Jesus’ crucifixion and many others like it, Risen picks up where that film dropped off in the biblical story of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. In Risen—a wide-release feature film in theaters on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016—a Roman military tribune, second to Pontius Pilate, who saw Jesus die, now must dispel rumors that He is alive. Risen is produced by LD Entertainment and distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment’s TriStar Pictures in association with AFFIRM Films, known for faith-and-family hits such as Soul Surfer, Courageous and When the Game Stands Tall.
“Risen is a gripping story of a top Roman official ordered to prove Jesus’ resurrection was a hoax by finding the body and crushing His few but passionate followers,” Rich Peluso, AFFIRM Films senior vice president, said. “Christians know it was no hoax. But seeing a doubter, a skeptic, unravel the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection brings a new outsider’s perspective to the Gospels’ account of the most important event in human history.”
Risen is an LD Entertainment and 50 Dias Producciones A.I.E—Fifty Days Productions LLC, co-production.
Risen stars Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Peter Firth (Pearl Harbor) and Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard). The film was directed by Kevin Reynolds (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) and is being edited by Steven Mirkovich (The Passion of the Christ).
Risen is an epic biblical story of the weeks immediately following Jesus’ death on the cross, as seen through the eyes of the unbelieving Clavius (Fiennes), a high-ranking Roman military tribune. Clavius and his aide Lucius (Felton) are instructed by Pontius Pilate to ensure that Jesus’ radical followers don’t steal His body and claim resurrection. When the body goes missing within days, Clavius’ mission is to find the body, dispel rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Producers believe the film’s unique approach of seeing Jesus’ resurrection from the viewpoint of a nonbeliever in addition to the faithful scriptural treatment of the story will attract wide audiences. Additionally, outreach to a coalition of leading Protestant and Catholic influencers will be a key aspect of Risen‘s promotional campaign.
Risen is produced by Mickey Liddell, Patrick Aiello and Pete Shilaimon, and executive produced by Robert Huberman and Scott Holroyd. Screenplay by Kevin Reynolds and Paul Aiello. Story by Paul Aiello.
