ROTTEN TOMATOES: New Line's "Nativity" Nabs Whale Rider

New Line's "Nativity" Nabs Whale Rider

by RT Staff | March 17, 2006

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New Line Cinema is venturing into Biblical territory with "Nativity," a baby Jesus prequel, to star "Whale Rider" ingenue Keisha Castle-Hughes.

"Nativity" will serve as a pre-story to the oh-so-familiar birth of baby Jesus scenario that adorns church yards and mantlepieces everywhere each Christmas season. Castle-Hughes will star as a young Virgin Mary, while "Thirteen" helmer Catherine Hardwicke will direct.

The story is written by Mike Rich ("Finding Forrester") and follows Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem; King Herod, John the Baptist, and the three kings will also make appearances.

From the Hollywood Reporter: "The story, to be told with a strong female perspective, will follow Mary and Joseph's life before the birth of Christ as their love, faith and beliefs are tested.

Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter and Michael Disco are overseeing the project, which will begin shooting on May 1 in Morocco and Italy. The studio is eyeing a Dec. 1 release."

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(1-3 of 3 posts) | Reply

synergyred writes:
on Mar 17 2006 02:56 PM

This actually sounds REALLY interesting. I hope they do well with it and DON'T put the three kings at the Nativity scene.

If anyone doesn't know, they weren't at the actual birth of Chirst. They had quite a bit furthur to walk and came considerably later.

(Reply to this)

ninjaandy writes:
on Mar 17 2006 06:18 PM

Well, if they're looking at historicity the idea that it was three kings, rather than another number, is a pious tradition, but not a necessity.

Early Christian mosaics have as many as 12 and as few as 2, although 3 is the common number and serves other purposes as well.

That said, I think this isn't going to be very good. That's a period of history where very little is known, but many things are NOT known. More to the point, there are some things that are highly improbable and others that are likely, but little documented, even in the bible. Lots of non-Christian historical revisionists love to make up all kinds of stuff based on pet theories and ideas of their own, with little regard for culture or society (or logic, for that matter).

The term "strong female perspective" doesn't instill confidence that they're looking for accuracy. Granted, it could just mean "from the point of view of Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, etc.". But more likely, we're looking at a feminisict re-imagining of Mary and Joseph.

I hope I'm wrong, though, and admittedly know nothing about the director's views on such things.

(Reply to this)

youbetter23skidoo writes:
on Mar 20 2006 09:03 PM

[b]cherry poppin' deities![/b]
its rumored that mary was into the hardcore bondage scene, so i hope they address that when she and god finally boink.

(Reply to this)