Movies

Watch The New Chariot Race Featurette For BEN-HUR

By Michelle McCue | June 14, 2016

Photo credit: Philippe Antonello
© 2016 Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Paramount Pictures has released a brand new featurette for director Timur Bekmambetov’s upcoming film BEN-HUR – in theaters August 19, 2016.

BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption. Based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Also starring Morgan Freeman and Rodrigo Santoro. (Trailer)

See how the team brought the chariot race to life in this new featurette.

One of the highlights of the 1959 film, which ran 212 minutes, is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by stunt expert Yakima Canutt. BEN-HUR’s Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best Supporting Actor for Welsh actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik.