Ever since Last Days in the Desert locked down Ewan McGregor for the dual role of Jesus and the Devil, the nascent religious opus went dark. In development at Broad Green Pictures, our first look at McGregor in the star role as the Messiah emerged some time ago, though now that the film has set its sights on a May 13, 2016 release date, we can readily expect the marketing machine to grind into motion.
Written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia, the drama also stars Tye Sheridan, Ciaran Hinds and Ayelet Zurer, and will base its story around an imagined depiction of Jesus’ 40 days spent in a self-imposed exile in the desert. Last Days in the Desert wasn’t the only project to have a release date pinned down, however, with Broad Green also confirming launch plans for both The Dark Horse and the Bryan Cranston-led The Infiltrator, aligning the flicks for an arrival on April 1, 2016 and August 31, 2016, respectively.
One thing’s for sure: the studio’s production line shows no sign of slowing down. Having released both real estate drama 99 Homes and I Smile Back earlier this year, 2016 will see Broad Green host three relatively high-profile dramas. In terms of the Ewan McGregor religious flick, Bonnie Curtis, Julie Lynn, and Wicks Walker will leverage producing duties.
In light of today’s news, The Dark Horse will hit April 1, 2016, while The Infiltrator arrives on August 31, 2016. Last Days in the Desert, meanwhile, opens on May 13, 2016, and you can view an early plot synopsis below.
Last Days in the Desert / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Rodrigo Garcia) — Ewan McGregor is Jesus—and the Devil—in an imagined chapter from his 40 days of fasting and praying in the desert. On his way out of the wilderness, Jesus struggles with the Devil over the fate of a family in crisis, setting himself up for a dramatic test. Cast: Ewan McGregor, Ciarán Hinds, Ayelet Zurer, Tye Sheridan.
