Usually when I say Mary Mother of Christ, it's due to a bout with Tourette's or just after smashing my thumb with a hammer.  In this case, the film is actually a prequel of sorts to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. The Alister Grierson-directed picture has reportedly interested Sir Ben Kingsley, who is eyeing the role of King Herod.  The story involves Mary's impassioned defiance of the King in order to save her son, Jesus.  Mary Mother of Christ was written by Barbara Nicolosi and Benedict Fitzgerald, who co-wrote The Passion of the Christ with Gibson.  Hit the jump for more on this picture.

The Wrap reports that Kingsley is circling the role of King Herod for Mary Mother of Christ.   The rest of the cast includes Odeya Rush (The Odd Life of Timothy Green) as Mary, Peter O’Toole (Lawrence of Arabia) as Symeon and Julia Ormond (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) in the role of Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin.  The All-Brit cast may also include Dame Judi Dench (Casino Royale) as Anna the Prophetess and Hugh Bonneville (Iris) as Satan, if the producers get their wish.  Lionsgate will be handling domestic distribution on the film.

Kingsley, who recently appeared in The Dictator and Hugo, has a busy schedule ahead of him, with Gavin Hood's Ender's Game adaptation, Philipp Stölzl's 11th century historical drama The Physician and Shane Black's Iron Man 3 all due to open next year.   No word yet on if the Passion sequel, Christ: The Second Coming, has been greenlit.  (That's a joke, folks.  I'm here all week.)