Pope Francis Blesses Actor Who Plays Jesus Christ in New 'Ben-Hur' Movie

Pope Francis has given his blessings to the man who will play Jesus Christ in the upcoming "Ben-Hur" film.

The Catholic Church's highest leader blessed actor Rodrigo Santoro ("300: Rise of an Empire") while in Rome last week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Santoro attended the papal audience with Nazanin Boniadi ("Homeland"), who plays Esther, a slave who is in love with Ben-Hur, in the film due for release next year.

Last month, the production team faced a stumbling block when Italian archeological officials prohibited the film's producers from shooting in Rome's Circus Maximus, immortalized in the original Ben-Hur film. Instead, the ancient site had to be recreated in a local studio, The Guardian reported.

The movie is based on Lew Wallace's popular 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ," which was "immortalized" in the cinema world by Charlton Heston in William Wyler's 1959 film. In his film, Wyler chose not to show the Messiah's face "in deference to contemporary views on the depiction of Jesus."

The film Santoro and Boniadi will star in will be the third film version of the story, first adapted in the big screen in 1925.

"Ben-Hur" is about the friendship and falling-out between Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince, and his adopted brother Messala, a Roman army officer. Ben-Hur was falsely accused of committing treason and then forced into slavery. He sought to exact revenge as he travelled home but found redemption.

A diverse group of actors will play key roles. Jack Huston ("Boardwalk Empire") will play the title role, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who is sentenced to a life of slavery.

Toby Kebbell ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") will portray Messala, Ben-Hur's childhood friend and the film's antagonist.

Morgan Freeman ("The Dark Knight") is Ilderim, a sheik who asks Ben-Hur to drive his chariot in a race against Messala.

Sofia Black D'Elia ("Project Almanac") will play Tirzah, Ben-Hur's sister.

Ayelet Zurer ("Man of Steel") is Naomi, Ben-Hur's mother.

Moises Arias ("Ender's Game") will portray Gestas, a "teenage Jewish zealot" and possibly one of the thieves who is crucified with Jesus.

Pilou Asbæk ("Lucy") will play Pontius Pilate, the Judean governor who oversees the chariot race.

Huston and Kebbell are English, Freeman and Black-D'Elia are American, Boniadi is Iranian-British, Santoro is Brazilian, Zurer is Israeli, Arias is of Colombian descent and Asbæk is Danish.

Mark Burnett, Sean Daniel, Joni Levin and Duncan Henderson produce the film scribed by Keith Clarke and John Ridley. Roma Downey, Clarke, Ridley, and Jason Brown are the movie's executive producers.

The latest version of Ben-Hur "returns to the heart of Lew Wallace's epic novel," according to a press statement from MGM/Paramount, the studios behind the film. The filmmakers said the movie will be a new adaptation rather than a remake.

The movie is set for release in theaters on Feb. 26, 016.