Anthony Hopkins To Play King Herod In Biblical Thriller 'Mary'

(L-R) Anthony Hopkins and Noa Cohen Rob Latour/Martin Schoeller

EXCLUSIVE: Filming has recently wrapped in Morocco on under-the-radar biblical thriller Mary, starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins as King Herod and emerging Israeli actress Noa Cohen as Mary.

In coming-of-age story Mary, the title character is shunned following the otherworldly conception of her child and forced into hiding. King Herod’s relentless drive to maintain power at any cost ignites the murderous pursuit of the newborn child that he believes is a threat to his reign on the throne. The film sees the young Mary and Joseph on the run and having to hide their baby, Jesus, at all costs.

The director is DJ Caruso (xXx: Return of Xander Cage), and the pic is produced by Mary Aloe, founder of Aloe Entertainment (Bruised), and Hannah Leader (Freud’s Last Session). Producing alongside were financiers Gillian Hormel (Bruised) of Ludascripts and Joshua Harris of PeachTree Media Partners (Not Without Hope).

Timothy Michael Hayes (BirdsEye) wrote the original screenplay after consulting with priests, bishops, baptist pastors, rabbis, Mormons and Muslims along with biblical scholars and theologians.

UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance jointly represent the film’s North American rights. West End Films is representing international sales.

The film also stars Mila Harris (Young Mary), Ido Tako (Joseph), Stephanie Nur (Salome), Susan Brown, (Anna the Prophetess), Ori Pfeffer as (Joachim), Hilla Vidor (Anne), Gudmundur Thorvaldsson (Marcellus), Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Eamon Farren, Mili Avital, Milo Djurovic, Charley Boon, Kelsie Lewis, Jade Croot and Jay Willick.

After a worldwide search, Cohen is starring as Mary. The rising actress was born and raised in Israel, only an hour away from where Mary was born. Cohen’s credits include hit Israeli YA series My Nephew Bentz, Infinity and the 2022 feature Silent Game.

The crew includes recently Oscar-nominated hair and makeup artist Karen Hartley Thomas (Golda), production designer James Merifield (Mary Queen of Scots), costume designer Tina Kalivas (The Man Who Fell to Earth), and director of photography Gavin Struthers (The Witcher) and Adam Schindler as the team’s biblical scholar. Casting was provided by Chamutal Zerem Casting in Tel Aviv and Finnian Tweed Casting in London. Production services were provided in Morocco by Valkyries Productions.

Other investors include Roger Dorman, Angie Staten, Amory Leader, Tidbits, Media Finance Capital, LONY Productions, FitzHenry Films, Prime Focus Studios, Creativity Media, Doonan, Baldwin and Crown House Films.

Pastor Joel Osteen, who broadcasts to the Joel Channel on SiriusXM, is part of the film’s upcoming marketing campaign as he was on The Bible Series in 2013.

Hopkins said: “At this time of my life, I’m drawn to the challenge of complex scripts. As well, the level of the detail given to this production with extraordinary sets, props and costumes — makes me proud to be a part of this.”

Producer Aloe added: “Hopkins was primed to play King Herod the Great. He embodied this historical figure of a king who was steeped in mental illness and greed with such great ferocity.”

Director Caruso commented: “I want to give the world a portrayal of the real human Mary. Her story has a lesser-known beginning; it is profoundly worthy of being told. Portraying her from birth through childhood and presenting her as a human being with apprehensions and fears will be a celebration of everything inspiring and gut-wrenching about her journey.”

Said Osteen: “What drew me to this project was how the script represents a real breakthrough in the telling of Mary’s story. It draws the audience into her incredible journey in becoming one of the most influential women in all of history.”

Hopkins is represented by UTA, along with Goodman, Genow. Caruso is represented by CAA, Media Talent Group and Brecheen Feldman. Cohen is repped by Bold Israel. Harris is represented by Paradigm and Complete Management. Stephanie Nur is represented by Innovative Artists.