THE TELEGRAPH: A remake of The Message, a movie about the life of the Prophet Mohammed, is to be filmed, its producers have said.
"The Messenger of Peace", to be shot around the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, was originally a 1977 Hollywood film made by Moustapha Akkad and starring Anthony Quinn.
It is often applauded by Muslims as an example of how commercial Western cinema can respect Islam.
Producer Oscar Zoghbi, who worked on the original, said: "We have only the utmost respect for Akkad's work but technology in cinema has advanced since the 1970s and this latest project will employ modern film techniques in its renewal of the first film's core messages."
Executive producer of the new movie, Hajja Subhia Abu Elheja, said: "Since 9/11, Islam's image has suffered tremendously.
"Now more than ever it has become important to bridge the gap of understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims."
"It is telling that only one great historical film has ever been made about Islam, a religion with 1.5 billion followers, whereas Christianity has been the subject of over 30."
The film's scriptwriter Ramsey Thomas, said: "In the 21st century there is a real need for a film that emotionally engages audiences on the journey that led to the birth of Islam." >>> By Chris Irvine | October 28, 2008
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