Entitled Thirty Pieces of Silver, the first-ever 3D film on Jesus, currently under production in India, is scheduled to be released for Easter 2013 in 5,000 movie theaters throughout the world. Filming will start in July 2012 and the completed movie will be dubbed in nine languages, including Malayalam and English. The film’s director, producers and part of the cast are Indian.
Producer Johny Sagarika says: “It took almost 10 years to write the screenplay. The director, Kurien Varansala, held many meetings and discussions with Bible scholars.”
Most of the filming will take place in Ramoji Rao Film City, Hyderabad, while other scenes will be shot in Jerusalem. The 300-strong cast will include 50 people from Kerala.
On 5 June, the film’s producers presented the initiative to 35 Catholic bishops gathered at the Pastoral Orientation Center in Kochi and asked them to bless their project.