Alexander Siddig (Bashir) has joined the cast of Nativity, a feature film about Mary. the mother of Jesus. The Deep Space Nine actor will play the angel Gabriel.

Academy Award nominees Keisha Castle-Hughes of Whale Rider and Shohreh Aghdashloo of House of Sand and Fog are also in the cast, playing Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. The film will shoot in Italy and Morocco between May and July of this year, according to Sid City.

The script, written by Mike Rich, was reviewed previously by IGN. "Drawing largely upon the Gospels, Mike Rich's script documents the life of Mary (Castle-Hughes), a simple but virtuous adolescent who is chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus Christ. The script establishes Mary's life in the small Judean town of Nazareth as one of poverty and oppression under the rule of King Herod," said The Stax Report. "Her path is pretty straightforward," added the reviewer, noting that although the Biblical Jesus had moments of doubt, Mary never wavers.

The Stax Report did not expect the film "to spark any Passion-ate firestorms," as it was broad thematically, creating pathos for characters such as Joseph and Mary's parents. "King Herod has always made for a grand villain; he not only orders the death of his own sons but also the slaughter of children. His portrayal here reminded me somewhat of Edward Longshanks in Braveheart."

The film will be directed by Catherine Hardwicke and produced by New Line Cinema. Its planned release is on December 1st of this year.

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