Starring as both Jesus and Lucifer in “Last Days in the Desert,” a film by Colombian director Rodrigo Garcia, Ewan McGregor was “a little freaked out” at the prospect of portraying Yeshua, but hopes he has done justice to Christian theology. “It’s daunting to be approaching a piece of work where you’re playing Jesus Christ, very daunting. It took up most of my thoughts in terms of the two characters.”
McGregor read extensively in preparation for filming.
“Many of the most recent books were trying to disprove the ‘son of God’ nature of his life and were writing more about who he might actually have been. [But] I was portraying Jesus who is the son of God,” McGregor said.
The film focuses on Jesus’ forty days in the desert, resisting the temptations of Satan. In Garcia’s vision, the more human aspect of Jesus was explored – a man who is tired, hungry, and humble but ultimately victorious.
“We were showing the human side to him, exploring the human side of a young rabbi who is aware of the path that’s been set in front of him,” McGregor said.
“When I started thinking about those real human qualities about communicating with his father… I found him there. I found a truth to those sides of his character. [But] I was always mindful of that fact that I was playing Jesus whose father is God.”
Source: Huffington Post
Photo credit: Gilles Mingasson / Broad Green Pictures