As Hollywood continues to warm up to faith-based films, a new movie is in development about one of the Bible’s most central and transformative figures: the Apostle Paul.
The project, titled, “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” is being produced by Affirm Films, the faith-based label of Sony Pictures, and will be filming in Malta through the end of September. The “inspirational drama” about the final months of Paul’s life is a fascinating development, considering that Paul is one of the most transformative figures in the Bible.
Paul’s radical conversion from vicious persecutor of Christians to one of the central figures of early Christianity is one of the most gripping stories in the entirety of the biblical text, with the apostle penning at least 13 books in the New Testament.
“Next to Jesus, no one played a more central role in the growth of early church than the Apostle Paul,” Rich Peluso, executive-vice president of AFFIRM Films, said in a statement. “He wrote a vast swath of the New Testament and traveled more than 10,000 miles by foot to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Paul, Apostle of Christ,” will focus on Paul’s final months on Earth as he awaited execution in Rome by Emperor Nero and, according to Peluso, the film will also focus on Paul’s attempt to reconcile “his faith with his past persecution of the church.”
A press release explains more about the film’s plot: “As Paul’s days grow shorter, he feverishly works from prison to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and embolden his followers to stand strong in their faith against Roman persecution far greater than has ever been seen.”
Paul will be played by actor James Faulkner (“Game of Thrones”), with actors Jim Caviezel (“Passion of the Christ”), Olivier Martinez (“SWAT”), Joanne Whalley (“A.D. The Bible Continues”) and John Lynch (“The Secret Garden”) joining the cast as well.
Considering Paul’s transformative and instrumental role in the Christian faith — and his life story, which undoubtedly proves that God can change any human heart — “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” is sure to spark plenty of attention and intrigue.
“Paul changed from murdering Christians to becoming their unlikely leader,” producer T.J. Berden said in a statement. “His life personifies ‘forgiveness’, a concept that seems almost impossible today — but desperately needed.”