Jack Huston is starring as the Jewish prince who is betrayed into slavery by his onetime friend, Messala, played by Toby Kebbell. He fights his way to freedom and vengeance through chariot races, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Morgan Freeman will play the role of a mentor, who teaches the Jewish prince in chariot-racing.
Sofia Black D'Elia and Ayelet Zurer are also in the cast.
Timur Bekmambetov is directing the movie, which is an adaptation of the Lew Wallace novel 'Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ' published in 1880.
Jesus appears many times in the story as Ben-Hur sees the man preach while in Jerusalem and later sees his crucifixion.