Jesus has been the subject of countless songs, books, and pieces of homeboy-related merchandise, but when it comes to film, the end of his life has received much more attention recently (The Passion of the Christ) than his earlier years (except for Ricky Bobby’s prayer-related preferences in Talladega Nights). That’s going to change now that Chris Columbus, the director behind some of the most celebrated precocious boys on film (Home Alone’s Kevin, Harry Potter), has found his ultimate young star. Columbus is producing Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, an adaptation of Anne Rice’s book about Jesus as a boy, figuring out his purpose in life (his “come-to-myself” moment, as it were). While there’s no official information about the movie’s release date, a safe bet would be about a year from now, in time for the lead character’s birthday.
