Mallika Sherawat Given Leading Role in The Aquarian Gospel

As if Drew Heriot's The Aquarian Gospel could get any stranger, The Times of India is reporting that Bollywood sex symbol Mallika Sherawat will play one of Jesus's loyal (and celibate) friends. Sherawat has caused controversy in India over her, er, more western attitude to her attire which has heightened her profile overseas. In 2005 she starred opposite Jackie Chan (pictured) in The Myth and there are rumours of various other Hollywood productions.

Heriot is quoted as saying "Mallika is not just a pretty face. She is versatile, [and] has a background in philosophy, so she will convey the richness of the subject matter". Sherawat aims to bring wisdom and humour to her role qualities she finds largely lacking in "most mythological and spiritual film stories".

Guardian on The Aquarian Gospel

The Guardian has picked up on the Aquarian Gospel story I covered in September, and they seem to have unearthed a good deal more about it.

"The Bible devotes just seven words to the most formative years of Yeshua's life saying: 'The boy grew in wisdom and stature'. The [film] will follow Christ's journey to the east where he encounters other traditions, and discovers the principles that are the bedrock of all the world's great religions," said Drew Heriot, the film's director, whose credits include the cult hit The Secret.

The film, which is due for release in 2009, sets out to be a fantasy action adventure account of Jesus's life with the three wise men as his mentors. Although the producers say the film will feature a "young and beautiful" princess, it is not clear whether Jesus is to have a love interest.

There are a few other themes coming through that the Variety piece suggested on such as ideas of meditation, loyalty to untouchables, Jesus's teachings having roots in Indian traditions, and so on. The piece also quotes Fida Hassnain, former director of archaeology at the University of Srinagar as mentioning that a tomb of Issa is still venerated in Srinagar, and claiming that there is archaeology to back up the film's unusual premise. "I have seen the scrolls which show Buddhist monks talking about Jesus's visits. There are also coins from that period which show Yuzu or have the legend Issa on them, referring to Jesus from that period.

Bizarre Adaption of the Day - The Aquarian Gospel

Peter Chattaway has linked to this rather odd story from Variety. Drew Heriot and William Keenan are to make a film based on "The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ". The "gospel" was written down in 1908 by Levi H. Dowling and purports to tell the story of Jesus's "missing years" between the ages of 13 and 30.

Keenan's script also utilises Russian anthropologist Nicolas Notovich's book "The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" (1898). Both books claim that Jesus travelled through the east during his missing years, and that he was conversant with various Eastern Religions. Both books also claim to be based on more ancient traditions, although it's highly contested as to whether these other sources existed.

The film will follow "Jesus' journeys from Israel through India, Tibet, Persia, Greece and Egypt as he encounters people of all creeds, classes and faiths." The plan is to use actors from a wide range of countries. I can't say I'm hugely enthusiastic about this, as I suppose it's not really even a Bible film as such. Nevertheless it would still be interesting to see how Jesus is portrayed.