First look at Jack Huston in the new Ben-Hur

Jack Huston plays Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Paramount Pictures.

It’s one thing to have the concept for another cinematic take on Lew Wallace’s novel Ben-Hur. It’s quite another to see Jack Huston filling a role once made famous (and famously Oscar-winning) by Charlton Heston. But the first images from the new movie have arrived.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, this latest Ben-Hur pledges to skirt closer to Wallace’s book than the 1959 film. It’ll chronicle the younger days of Ben-Hur and Messala (Toby Kebbell), best friends growing up in Jerusalem. Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince and Messala the son of a Roman tax collector who is packed off to be educated in Rome for five years. Upon his return, Messala mocks our hero for his religion and, after an accident he pins on his friend, has him sold into slavery. Cue a quest for revenge that includes the chariot race made iconic by the Heston film. Which is definitely included again this time, with Huston and his director spent more than two months rehearsing.