Spielberg to remake 'Ten Commandments'

Director-producer Steven Spielberg is set to sign on to direct the remake of Ten Commandments. The new version of the original 1956 film, which is regarded as one of the greatest movies in Hollywood history, will be produced by Warner Bros.

Spielberg is hoping to give his version of the story of Jewish prophet Moses a far different spin to the 1956 version.

"He is hoping to make his sword and sandals epic 'like a Braveheart-ish version of the Moses story'," a source said.

Moses will be portrayed as a tough warrior in the new film, whereas Charlton Heston the director of the original played him as a humble man with great inner strength. The working title of the film is Gods And Kings, and will follow the complete life of the prophet.

It will start from Moses' humble beginnings as an orphan found floating down the river in a basket, all the way through to him freeing the Jews and leading them to The Promised Land.

While the film will undoubtedly feature the spectacular parting of the Red Sea, it is not being considered as a 3D feature. "There have been glossy versions of the Moses story but this would be a real warrior story," the source added.

The original Ten Commandments is one of the most profitable films of all time, grossing USD 65 million in 1956, which is equivalent to close to USD 1 billion today.