With Christmas just around the corner, Netflix is offering Christian viewers a chance to celebrate the story Mother Mary with a film that places Jesus’ mother in the spotlight.
The streaming giant is backing the faith-based film ‘Mary’, which tells the Biblical story of the Mary, who becomes pregnant with the Son of God and suffers persecution to keep him alive.
Noa Cohen stars as Mary and Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins as King Herod, in this drama directed by D.J. Caruso and produced by Mary Aloe.
Lakewood Church’s Pastor Joel Osteen serves as an executive producer on the film.
Through Mary’s eyes, the film tells the story of one of history’s most profound figures and the remarkable journey that led to the birth of Jesus. Chosen to bring the Messiah into the world, Mary (Cohen) is shunned following a miraculous conception and forced into hiding. When King Herod (Hopkins) orders a murderous hunt for her newborn baby, Mary and Joseph (Ido Tako), go on the run – bound by faith and driven by courage – to save his life at all costs.
The movie also stars Stephanie Nur as Salome, Susan Brown as Anna the Prophetess, Ori Pfeffer as Joachim, Eamon Farren as Satan, Hilla Vidor as Anne, Mili Avital as Mariamne, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson as Marcellus, Dudley O’Shaughnessy as Gabriel, Keren Tzur as Elizabeth, Mehmet Kurtulus as Baba ben Buta, and Mila Harris as a young Mary.
The project marks the latest example of Netflix’s expansion into faith-based programming. Movies such as “Sound of Freedom” have recently made the case that faith-based films continue to have strong box office staying power. But “Mary” will only be available on Netflix, as the streamer continues to be committed to streaming exclusivity.
To bring the movie world of Mary to life, Aloe and the filmmakers consulted with a wide range of religious scholars and leaders to capture the story’s historical elements and to focus on Mary of Nazareth’s experiences.
‘Mary’ streams on Netflix on Friday, December 6.
(Picture Courtesy: Christopher Raphael/Netflix)
