Ben Kingsley talks with us at Comic-Con about the humanity and struggle that Exodus: Gods and Kings finds in the Moses story.
Sir Ben Kingsley is no stranger to taking on stories of sacred importance. As an actor who has appeared in such films as Gandhi and Schindler’s List, there is not a subject too important to shy away from finding the humanity in…even the Bible (or Cecil B. DeMille).
Kingsley talked about exactly that Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con when I asked him about how his upcoming film, Exodus: Gods and Kings, stands in comparison to cherished works, be they Hebrew or Charlton Heston.
Kingsley said, “Trying to find, as of course I did with Gandhi, as of course I have tried in my work, to demystify [figures], and say, ‘Look, these guys were fresh for blood, and they had a hell of a struggle’—Ridley [Scott] of course has taken that further with the wonderful Christian Bale as Moses. Absolutely beautiful performance, but you see it’s gritty; it’s a guy struggling, and sometimes very out of his depth. Very human and very vulnerable. So, that’s what we all attempted as actors to do.”
Exodus: Gods and Kings, which is the latest film in the Resurrection of the Biblical Epic, reimagines the second book from the Hebrew Bible through the lens of big budget world-builder Ridley Scott. The filmmaker behind such transformative films as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Blade Runner recounts the tale of how Moses went from a prince of Egypt to God’s messenger for freeing the Jewish slaves out of Egypt.
Some religiously minded organizations, such as Christianity Today, have questioned if such an approach—purportedly including Moses leading cavalry charges against both the Hittites and eventually the Egyptians themselves—will alienate the core religious demographic that holds these stories so dear.
However, it would not be the first time Ben Kingsley has heard faith-based opposition to an Exodus story.
Kingsley also mused to me that he once played Moses for TNT in 1995.
“I tried to make his struggle as human as possible,” Kingsley recalled. However, the way Kingsley attempted this Biblical figure was not totally pleasing to the Vatican’s on-set advisory priest. “He was quite shocked at the way that Moses had to speak with God in scenes.” Apparently, it was considered inappropriate that Kingsley’s television Moses wasn’t piously on the ground, kneeling with his hands clasped together in the air.
“I was arguing with him...I’m talking to my buddy! I’m having a row with the boss.”
Yet, when I asked if that production also had a rabbi on set to deem whether this interpretation was kosher, Kingsley rather amusedly said “No.” Of course, they wouldn’t.
Exodus: Gods and Kings opens in U.S. theaters on December 12, 2014.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all news updates related to the world of geek. And Google+, if that's your thing!
Disqus - noscript
What we first need to talk about is how the cast is all white.
I'm sorry but I just cant suspend disbelief about this. There were no Caucasians in Egypt B.C....most likely not anywhere in the world at the time.
Heh heh, I thought they were in the Caucasus mountains, from which they descended upon Hindustan (now India), which is why they (Hindi people) are dark but don't have, say, my big ol lips and nose
Breathin all the white man's air
Most think that it is unlikely, as Pangaea would still have existed around this time.
Never heard that before, thanks. I am a Christian, and I know most "Christians" don't believe Pangaea. I do. It fits like a puzzle. I just think Pangaea was a lot more recent. Like, either from the flood or
Two sons were born to Eber, the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. (1 Chronicles 1:19 NASB)