Nicholas Cage to star in remake of 'Left Behind' movie

Nicholas Cage will star in the re-make of the "Left Behind" movie, according to an article in today's Christian Post.

There have been other movies made in the past dealing wih Christian beliefs and the life changing moments that happen when a person gives his life to God. One such movie is "The Flywheel" which was made a few years ago on a $20,000 budget and yet was very well made. It, too is part of a series of movies. A Bible study group was shown this movie last Monday night at the home of Navigators Jack and Carolyn Hill. Dr. Kenneth Aboussie shaerd his DVD of "The Flywheel" with the group. Everyone was very moved by it. These movies have a great ministry and often reach anudiences that otherwise might not hear the gospel.

The new Left Behind movie with Cage will be different from the original films which were released in 2001 and were based on the Left Behind book published in 1995 by Tyndale House Publishers.

This movie will begin after the rapture, which is the removal of Christians from Earth to Heaven. Many Biblical scholars base their belief in the rapture on the passage found in the New Testament book of I Thessalonians 4:17 which reads: "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever."

This film, which is scheduled for release in 2014, is expected to receive the blockbuster treatment many felt the original version should have received, according to Paul Lalonde, who was behind the production of the first three "Left Behind" movies.

The first of the movies received only a limited release in theaters while the second and third movies of the series went directly to video, bypassing completely the theaters.

Why were the first versions not provided with more distribution?

Lalonde said via e-mail the resources didn't exist to provide the sort of wide distribution he believes the film deserves. He says those resources are now available which is why he's doing the reboot.

Lalonde is CEO of Stoney Lake Entertainment and co-founder of Cloud Ten Pictures, which produced and distributed the first three "Left Behind" movies.

Lalonde co-wrote the successful original "Left Behind" movies which grossed $4.2 million in their limited release to theaters and was actually 2001's most successful independent movie based on its video release.

Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye wrote the "Left Behind" books which sold more tha 65 million copies.

The Passion of the Christ is one of the most successful Christian movies ever made. The Mel Gibson production which starred Jim Caveziel as Jesus Christ garnered $370 million and was based on the scriptures, according to Gibson. After viewing this movie, people were seen leaving the theatre crying and visibly shaken. Many movie goers had no idea of the actual events which occurd during the life and death of Jesus Christ.

LaHaye, 86, said he is now working on raising money for another film, The Resurrection of the Christ, which will be a sequel to Gibson's 2004 masterpiece.

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