‘Warriors of the Last Temple’–Movie Update
A few years ago Ted Baehr, publisher of Movieguide magazine in LA, approached me. He said that there has never been a big-screen Hollywood movie made about the topic of my Ph.D. dissertation (the Jewish-Roman War of AD 66-70) and that I had to be the one to write it (to get my POV). I told him I’d be the consultant. He said that would never work and he’d be my mentor. Then we’d bring in the consultants later to polish it up. That process is now complete. The 126-page script is currently being shopped in Hollywood and three producers are in the process of seeking funding for this high-concept, action-adventure, historical and political epic.
The story is told through the eyes of Flavius Josephus (29), the reluctant scribe, whose written account is the only eyewitness account of this period. Ted terms ‘Warriors of the Last Temple’ “the greatest story never told!”
Here’s the story/synopsis:
In the generation following Jesus’ death and in the shadow of his most dramatic prophecy—the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple—a young, ambitious but pacifist Jewish priest and gifted scribe is advancing in the Temple hierarchy.
But he is forced out of Temple service and into the Jewish army. He becomes a general in charge of Galilean district and charged with stopping the Roman invasion from reaching Jerusalem.
But he’s defeated and captured in battle, and through some miraculous but true circumstances becomes the advisor, mediator, and historian for the Romans.
During the final siege of Jerusalem, he tries to convince his people to surrender and Romans not to destroy his city and the Temple.
Throughout this time, he struggles with a decision that will impact the ultimate fate of not only Jerusalem and the Second Temple, but also the future of the teachings of Jesus.
Josephus (protagonist) is a real historical person who actually lived through these events and played a very important role. His historic writings are the only eyewitness accounts of this most significant time period.
The texture of this time is the clashing of three huge, cataclysmic forces and belief systems: 1) the paganism of Rome, 2) the end of biblical Judaism (with its animal, blood, and temple-sacrifice system), 3) and the emergence of a new faith called Christianity out from under being a sect of Judaism and free to become its own worldwide religion.
In the end, and despite all his efforts, Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed, and Josephus loses everything he’d held dear. But through another miraculous and true twist of fate, he gains all he ever wanted, marries the spurned love of his life, and writes this history for all posterity—works considered by many as a companion book to the Bible.
In Hollywood framing parlance, Warriors of the Last Temple is The Passion of the Christ meets Braveheart with a Gladiator twist.
Again, Ted Beahr terms this high-concept, action-adventure, historical and political epic, “the greatest story never told.”
It has gone through the consulting process and now awaits production funding— $100M-plus.
Both Ted and I would appreciate your prayers for this story to make its way from script to the big screen. A long way to go still exits and there are no certainties when dealing with the movie industry. But with your prayers and God’s will this epic and big-budget film can happen.