Jack Huston has been cast in an MGM and Paramount remake of Ben-Hur.
The 31-year-old actor will star in the title role alongside Morgan Freeman as Ildarian. Timur Bekmambetov will direct the film, with Mark Burnett, Sean Daniel and Joni Levin as producers.
Ben-Hur (1959) was directed by William Wyler, and starred Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur. The character is a Jewish prince in A.D. 26, whose childhood friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), is made commander of the Roman garrison. Messala betrays Ben-Hur and condemns him to the slave galleys, and the prince becomes a champion charioteer in his quest for vengeance.
Ildarian will be the one who teaches Ben-Hur how to chariot race in the remake. The new film will also emphasize the original parallel storyline that follows Jesus Christ.
Huston is best known for portraying Richard Harrow on Boardwalk Empire. The HBO series premiered its fifth and final season September 7, and the actor recently signed on to play Mr. George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.