Jack Huston’s act of faith in new Ben-Hur movie

BACK in 1959, Charlton Heston brought the epic tale of Ben-Hur to the big screen.

The story of a Jewish prince sent into slavery by a friend, it was about revenge and, ultimately, forgiveness.

With Heston in the title role, the film went on to win 11 Academy Awards.

Now, a new generation of film fans are set to be treated to the Biblical tale.

Jack Huston, who recently starred in Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, is Ben-Hur this time around, and was very enthusiastic about the project.

“I play Judah Ben-Hur, the Jewish prince who is betrayed by his adoped brother and goes on a journey of vengeance,” says Jack.

“In the end, he finds a beautiful moment of redemption and forgiveness in his heart — it’s a wonderful journey.

“One can relate it to today’s world, which is so filled with anger and hatred and animosity that there is a different path, a path of hope.

“It was an incredible thing. It was a journey inside myself as well as outside — emotionally, mentally, physically.

“Ben-Hur is very much a character that I believe a new audience is waiting for.

“It’s got such a lovely message and it was a beautifully- transformative six months for me as an actor and human being.

“I learnt a lot about myself,” he nods.

So why should a new generation of filmgoers watch a movie that’s already been seen and done?

“It’s a beautiful story that’s lived for more than 130 years since its conception in its novel form by General Lew Wallace,” adds Jack.

“That says so much about a story, that it’s being retold and reimagined to this day.

“That’s incredible, isn’t it?”

Jack wasn’t only enthusiastic, however, about the movie, but also his co-stars, saying they made him a better actor.

“We had one of the greatest casts on this,” he says.

“Timur Bekmambetov, our director, wanted real actors, people who can bring what they can to those roles.

“It’s always a treat when you’re on set with people who are bringing their absolute A game, who are really that immersed in these characters, because it only makes you up your performance, which is beautiful.”

One of those fellow cast members — who so brilliantly played Nelson Mandela in Invictus — was Morgan Freeman.

“My character, Ilderim, is a man who has a long-held vendetta against the Roman Empire,” he explains.

“He decided that the way he could best realise his revenge was to beat them at what they thought they were good at, and so he’s a professional gambler with chariot races.

“He has his own horses and chariots and challenges the Romans all the time.

“And, of course, he ends up beating them.

“Ben-Hur is a story about forgiveness because Jesus figures into the story pretty highly.

“It’s an exciting story, and I firmly believe it should be told again and again!”

Ben-Hur is out in cinemas now.

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