'Homeland' actress Nazanin Boniadi lands the female lead role in the Timur Bekmambetov-directed movie, while the 'Theory of Everything' star eyes the role of a doctor named Sienna Brooks.
- December 3, 2014
AceShowbiz -
"Ben-Hur" has found its leading lady in "Homeland" actress Nazanin Boniadi. The Iranian-British beauty, who portrays CIA operative Fara Sherazi on the Showtime series, has reportedly scored an offer to star opposite Jack Huston as Esther.
Boniadi lands the role after a heated competition, with "Kingsman: The Secret Service" villainess Sofia Boutella rumored as the runner-up for the role. Gal Gadot, who will star as Wonder Woman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", was previously in talks for the part before she dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
"Ben-Hur" is a remake of the 1959 Charlton Heston classic. Timur Bekmambetov is on board as director, while the cast also includes Toby Kebbell as Messala and Morgan Freeman as the man who trains Ben-Hur in chariot-racing.
Deadline, which first reported Boniadi's casting in "Ben-Hur", also learnt that Felicity Jones is up for a role in "Inferno". The brunette star, who played opposite Eddie Redmayne in "The Theory of Everything", eyes the role of Sienna Brooks, a doctor who helps Henry Langdon recover his memories and stop a madman from releasing a global plague.
Tom Hanks is set to reprise his role as Harvard symbologist Langdon. Ron Howard will direct the third installment based on the Dan Brown novel series, with the script provided by David Koepp.
