Saturday, 13 June 2015

Paul to get Hollywood makeover

Paul preparing to write to the Galatians
News that Hollywood is working on a biopic of Paul, (Saint Paul to the traditionalists and the Apostle Paul to the rest of us) "set to be the most high-profile Hollywood Christian production since Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ'", according to The Guardian.

"Hollywood Christian production"? Isn't that an oxymoron?
The move follows the success of several other faith-based films including Son Of God,God’s Not Dead, Heaven Is For Real, to name a few. [Hugh] Jackman [who is slated to take the title role and will co-produce], of course, has a huge fan base due to the X-Men and Wolverine movies so his name and star power is well-established across the globe. The next and probably last Wolverine film hits theaters March 3, 2017. He is also on board to star as PT Barnum for The Greatest Showman On Earth. Same with Affleck and Damon (Bourne Supremacy franchise).
Oh dear lord, the book of Acts meets Marvel Comics? Paul the epistle writer meets P T Barnum? A marriage made in heaven? Quite probably not.

The reality is that we know not an awful lot about Paul. Acts is highly fictionalised and the genuine epistles contain little biographical material. Exactly what he was trying to say in his writings about key issues like God, Judaism, Jesus and grace has been highly contested from the outset.

Not a problem for the movie industry which will doubtless make it up as they go. And what are the chances they throw in a love interest for the bachelor evangelist?

But the real question will be who they'll take on board as "expert advisers" to add a veneer of credibility to this dubious enterprise. Just who in the academic community is willing to prostitute themselves for a generous showering of shekels?
Posted by Gavin R at 16:13

5 comments:

  1. Paul D.13 June 2015 at 18:16

    Sounds like a pretty dull theme for a movie. Maybe they can spice it up with a food fight in Antioch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous14 June 2015 at 01:09

    "Just who in the academic community is willing to prostitute themselves for a generous showering of shekels?"

    Was that a rhetorical question?

    Answer: Just about anyone.

    "Acts is highly fictionalized"

    No reason then to complain about what ever Hollywood does. I happen to like science fiction. Will it be in 3D?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Skeptic14 June 2015 at 02:12

      Fiction, certainly. But I doubt it will have any science, real or fictional.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15 June 2015 at 03:03

      Ah, what passes for science fiction these days....

      Have you watched the Syfy channel lately -- then you can understand the dubious connection to science fiction -- the same could be said for Syfy science fiction: There's no science in it, and yet....

      Delete
  3. Anonymous14 June 2015 at 04:37

    Lucy Lawless should play the part of the Apostle Paul's wife.

    It's being filmed in New Zealand, right?

    ReplyDelete

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