Apple cider vinegar Is Pilates for you? 'Ambient gaslighting' 'Main character energy'
MOVIES
Jesus Christ

'Risen' sees Jesus through eyes of a non-believer

Patrick Ryan
USA TODAY
Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) is on a mission to find Jesus' body in 'Risen.'

The story of Jesus has been a big-screen staple for more than 100 years, starting with The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ in the early 1900s, and most recently, 2014's box-office success Son of God.

But Risen (in theaters Friday) dares to put a different spin on the Messiah movie, viewing the resurrection through the eyes of a non-believer: A fictional Roman military officer named Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), who probes Jesus' death in the days following his crucifixion.

"When I read it, I was surprised up until about page 30 or 40 that it turned out to be a biblical story," Fiennes says. "It felt like a man, not unlike (the Jake Gittes character in) Chinatown, who's sucked into an investigation that's beyond his capabilities, and I loved that concept as a way in."

Trailer debut: 'Risen' probes resurrection

Tom Felton, best known as smarmy wizard Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, plays a young soldier named Lucius who is enlisted by Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) to aid Clavius in his search for Jesus' body, in an attempt to prove that whispers of his resurrection are a hoax. When Clavius discovers that Jesus is indeed alive, he's forced to re-examine his beliefs.

"What's nice about this one is it captivates the non-religious as much as it does the religious," Felton says. "In fact, I'm not sure which side will be more compelled, because it really is a standalone, detective-adventure film. It just so happens that it has the backdrop of the most famous story ever told."

Clavius (Joseph Fiennes, left) and Lucius (Tom Felton) clash over faith and following orders in 'Risen.'

Neither Felton nor Fiennes consider themselves particularly religious, although they both grew up with a familiarity with Bible stories. Part of the appeal of Risen, co-written by director Kevin Reynolds and Paul Aiello, was that it took a history-driven approach to the Jesus story, rather than a mythological one.

"I grew up with films like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments and I loved them, but they were very evangelical and of their day," Fiennes says. "Now we've got either revisionist or Sunday school and boring, so I feel what's nice is here, we have a film that's a fresh angle. It's a conversation of faith, but at the same time, if you're not a believer, you can still take away the components of redemption, forgiveness and a second chance, which is Clavius' journey."

Oops! About that time Joseph Fiennes' wife grabbed Draco Malfoy�s butt...

With Easter just a month away, and little competition in theaters (Jesse Owens biopic Race and horror film The Witch are the only other national releases), Risen has the potential to be another faith-based box-office hit following last fall's War Room, which netted $67.8 million on a mere $3 million budget. But could its more skeptical take turn off the audiences who shunned big-budget adaptations Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings, which dared to put grittier spins on well-known Bible stories?

"When you're dealing with Scripture, you're treading on sacred ground that's dear to millions and millions of people," Fiennes says. "You want to honor that, but at the same time, you want to make it cinematic. This might pave the way for allowing a diverse audience into the auditorium that can enjoy it on their own terms and not feel they're being persuaded one way or another."

Featured Weekly Ad