Variety has revealed that James Faulkner, Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whalley, and John Lynch have been cast in Paul, Apostle of Christ, a religious drama from writer-director Andrew Hyatt (Full of Grace), which is being produced by Sony’s faith-based Affirm Films.
The film, which is currently shooting in Malta, will see Faulkner taking on the role of Paul, and explores his last days awaiting execution by Emperor Nero in Rome, where he works to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ and embolden his followers to stand strong in the face of Roman persecution.
“Next to Jesus, no one played a more central role in the growth of early church than the Apostle Paul,” said Affirm Films executive vice president Rich Peluso. “He wrote a vast swath of the New Testament and traveled more than 10,000 miles by foot to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Paul changed from murdering Christians to becoming their unlikely leader,” added producer T.J. Berden. “His life personifies ‘forgiveness,’ a concept that seems almost impossible today — but desperately needed. We at ODB Films are overjoyed to be working alongside Sony Affirm to share this much needed story with the world.”
Paul, Apostle of Christ is slated for release in 2018.