A fourth-century monk who became a revered saint in both the east and west will be the subject of a new film told through the lens of a modern-day gangland drama. Source: CNA.
“Moses the Black” is scheduled to start production later this year, according to Simeon Faith, an equity film fund managed by Simeon Entertainment that focuses on financing and producing faith-based films with worldwide studio-level distribution.
The announcement was made last month that Omar Epps, Chukwudi Iwuji, and rappers Wiz Khalifa and Quavo will star in the film.
According to legend, St Moses — an Ethiopian who lived in Egypt in the late 300s — was enslaved as a youth by a government official who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. Moses then joined a band of robbers and became their leader.
Eventually, after committing many crimes and moral atrocities, he hid himself in a monastery near Alexandria but became so inspired by the lives of the monks that he gave up his way of life and joined a monastic community himself.
He was killed, along with some brother monks, about the year 400.
The film will take place in modern-day Chicago and will depict his conversion from thief and gang leader to humble monk and model of repentance. His story will be told through the eyes of a modern-day gangster confronting his own path to redemption.
Executive producers of the film include Epps, Khalifa, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and was written by Yelena Popovic, best known for her 2021 film, Man of God.
Popovic is also serving as the director of the film and producer alongside her husband, Alexandros Potter.
When speaking about what inspired a film about St Moses the Black, Popovic said she felt “moved by his story of repentance” and was “fascinated” by his story.
She said she had an “epiphany about telling his story through the eyes of a modern-day gangster in Chicago and I felt that that was probably the best way to do justice to the story of St Moses the Black and his incredible repentance and life that he had”.
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New movie to depict story of fourth-century saint through modern-day gangland drama (By Francesca Pollio Fenton, CNA)
