Steven Spielberg Directing New 'Ten Commandments'?

By Sami K. Martin, Christian Post Reporter Friday, January 27, 2012

Steven Spielberg is signing on to direct an interpretation of the classic "Ten Commandments," according to reports.

Warner Brothers is behind the new movie, tentatively titled "Gods and Kings" that will focus more on the life of Moses than the actual reception of the commandments. One insider told Deadline.com, "It's a movie like a Braveheart-ish version of the Moses story: him coming down the river, being adopted, leaving his home, forming an army, and getting the Ten Commandments."

This will be the first movie to challenge the 1956 classic starring Charlton Heston. That production was made by Paramount Pictures and is the highest-grossing movie of all time, with $977 million in 2010. The American Film Industry named "Commandments" one of its "Ten Top Ten" in the epic category.

Mike Fleming carefully points out that "Gods and Kings" is more focused on "the book of Exodus and other stories from the Old Testament."

Warner Brothers is also in talks to produce a movie telling the story of Judah Maccabee, who led the Jewish revolt against Greek and Syrian armies. Mel Gibson is working with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas on that project. Gibson previously produced "The Passion of the Christ," which depicted the last hours of Jesus Christ.

Spielberg has long been associated with successful, dramatic films including "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List," which AFI has listed as one of the Ten Greatest Films Ever Made. "Schindler's List" told the true story of Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.

"Braveheart" is a classic movie by Spielberg portraying the struggle during the First War of Scottish Independence. Ironically, Gibson starred in that movie, playing Scottish hero William Wallace who led the charge against King Edward I of England. The picture earned five Academy Awards in 1995.

There is no word yet as to who may be in Spielberg's new production, but odds are that this time Gibson will be busy with his own project.