Ben Hur (miniseries)

Ben Hur
DVD cover
GenrePeriod drama
Adventure
Based onBen-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
by Lew Wallace
Written byAlan Sharp
Directed bySteve Shill
StarringJoseph Morgan
Stephen Campbell Moore
Kristin Kreuk
Emily VanCamp
ComposerRob Lane
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Canada
Spain
United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes2
Production
ProducersRoger Corbi
Simon Vaughan
CinematographyOusama Rawi
EditorsAnnie Ilkow
Simon Webb
Running time180 minutes
Original release
NetworkCBC
ReleaseApril 4, 2010 (2010-04-04)

Ben Hur is a television miniseries that first aired in 2010. Based on Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the series was produced by Alchemy Television Group in association with Drimtim Entertainment and Muse Entertainment in Montreal. It aired on Canada's CBC network on April 4, 2010,[1] and aired later in 2010 on ABC in the United States.

Ben-Hur was directed by Steve Shill,[2] and stars Kristin Kreuk, Ray Winstone, Art Malik, Hugh Bonneville and Joseph Morgan as Judah Ben-Hur. The film was written by Alan Sharp.

Plot

The miniseries follows the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy merchant in Jerusalem who is falsely accused of treason by his childhood friend, Messala, now a Roman officer. Betrayed and sold into slavery, Ben-Hur endures years of hardship before rising to seek revenge and redemption. His journey intersects with that of Jesus Christ, whose life and crucifixion profoundly impact Ben-Hur's understanding of forgiveness and justice.

Cast

Production

The miniseries was filmed across various international locations to authentically recreate the ancient world of Judaea and Rome. Its cinematography, led by Ousama Rawi, and its score, composed by Rob Lane, enhance the storytelling with vivid visuals and an evocative soundtrack.

Producers:

  • Roger Corbi
  • Simon Vaughan

Editors:

  • Annie Ilkow
  • Simon Webb

Reception

The adaptation received mixed reviews, with some praising its modern interpretation and performances while others critiqued its deviation from the novel and prior adaptations.

Trivia

  • The series is one of several adaptations of Lew Wallace’s novel, including the renowned 1959 film starring Charlton Heston.
  • Kristin Kreuk, known for her role in Smallville, brings a modern sensibility to the historical character of Tirzah.

References

  1. ^ "Programming Highlights: Ben Hur For The 21st Century; New Miniseries Premieres on CBC". Channelcanada.com. March 23, 2010. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  2. ^ Spangler, Todd (2009-03-26). "ABC to air 'Ben Hur' miniseries". Variety. Retrieved 2019-08-23.