Kingsley, Slater, Molina and Gould to Voice Animated Version of The Ten Commandments (2007)

My review of this film is now up, or you can read all my posts on this film.

What is it with the Ten Commandments at the moment? Last year saw Dougray Scott and Paul Rhys star in the new TV mini-series The Ten Commandments (2006). Then later in the year, a DVD was released of The Ten Commandments: The Musical featuring Val Kilmer reprising the role of Moses. Now this year we have The Margate Exodus lined up for a summer release, Dekalog spoof The Ten due in August and now another version of the Ten Commandments looks set to hit cinemas later in the year.

The imaginatively titled The Ten Commandments is an animated feature directed by Bill Boyce and John Stronach and produced by Promenade Pictures. Promenade's official website is still under construction, but there is a profile of the company here. It seems the names behind the company are former Paramount President Frank Yalbans and Cindy Bond who is producing this particular film.

The Ten Commandments will be the first of six bible themed CGI films known collectively as Epic Stories of the Bible. Curiously, the next entry will go back to the story of Noah with The Great Flood.

The film has certainly collected some acting talent to provide the voices. According to the IMDb, Ben Kingsley, who played the lead role in 1996's Moses, will narrate, handing on the part of Moses to Christian Slater. Alfred Molina will play the part of Ramsees, and Elliot Gould will provide the voice of God.

New Zealand Global Talent Community Kea have covered this story mainly looking at the success of of the animators for this project Huhu Studios. According to them at least, this film is based on DeMille's 1956 epic of the same title. Edit: Director Bill Boyce comments below that this film will not in fact be based on DeMille's film hoping instead to "portray a humble, human Moses".

I'll post more on this as it becomes available.