Alejandro Monteverde, known for Sound of Freedom and Cabrini, is collaborating with Angel Studios for the third time on an epic film titled Bethlehem. The film reimagines the infamous biblical story of King Herod’s massacre of infants in Bethlehem, framing it as a spiritual thriller. Currently filming in Morocco, the project is set for a 2025 theatrical release. The story centres on a courageous woman determined to protect her newborn son from King Herod, who is obsessed with killing the child.
The cast includes Avatar star Sam Worthington as Herod’s son Antipater, Rogue One actor Ben Mendelsohn as the devil Nahash, Gael García Bernal (Mozart in the Jungle) as Joachim, and Deva Cassel as Mary. Cassel previously starred in Laura Luchetti’s Beautiful Summer and will appear in Netflix’s upcoming miniseries The Leopard. Notably, the identity of the actor portraying King Herod is being kept under wraps for creative reasons, with reports suggesting he is nearly unrecognisable in the role.
Produced by Leo Severino and Eduardo Verastegui, Bethlehem reunites Monteverde with his frequent collaborators, screenwriter Rod Barr, cinematographer Gorka Gomez Andreu, and production designer Carlos Lagunas. Executive producers include Gary Hamilton and Noli Molla.