More filmmakers like Jim Sheridan and Wes Craven as well as actor Michael Cera are on board the 10-part event series to direct one episode each.
- Jan 13, 2014
AceShowbiz - WGN America is following in the footsteps of other TV networks which are taking on biblical-themed stories. The cable channel has officially ordered a "Ten Commandments" 10-part event series, with each episode giving a modern interpretation of one of the commandments.
Famous filmmakers like Lee Daniels, Gus Van Sant, Jim Sheridan and Wes Craven as well as actor Michael Cera are set to direct one episode each. For "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" star Cera, this will be the first time he's directing a project other than short films. Bruce Cohen and Bob Weinstein, meanwhile, will serve as producers on the series.
"We are thrilled and honored to have filmmakers of this caliber as a part of this ambitious project, and thank Bruce Cohen and The Weinstein Company for bringing this diverse group of directors together," says Matt Cherniss, WGN America President and GM, in a statement. "We look forward to seeing what each of these talented filmmakers has in store for the audience."
Craven, known for his work on horror films like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream" series, states, "I'm extremely excited to become part of this project. Working with Bob and Harvey has been a huge part of my career for more than a decade, and this project absolutely fascinates me. The chance to put my own personal spin in a contemporary manner on these ancient commands is priceless, as is the chance to work alongside so many other directors whose work has inspired me over the years."
Six-time Academy Award nominee Sheridan adds, "I have great respect for most of the 'Ten Commandments,' and I look forward to keeping within the rules as best I can."
"Each of these directors is acclaimed for their own unique brand of style and genre, so it's clear that we can expect ten wildly different episodes from this series," Weinstein chimes in.
Daniels is one of the most talked-about directors nowadays because of his work on the critically-acclaimed "Lee Daniels' The Butler". As for Van Sant, he is a two-time Academy Award nominess for Best Director, for "Good Will Hunting" (1997) and "Milk" (2008).
WGN America greenlit "Ten Commandments" following the successful "The Bible" miniseries on History Channel. NBC recently ordered a sequel to "The Bible", "A.D.: Beyond the Bible", with Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey returning as executive producers.
