Erik Feig, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group's President of Production, said, "Reza Aslan has written a remarkable book that manages to bring the ancient world into contemporary relief and to make a timeless story very timely. We are excited to create this uniquely cinematic and immersive world for moviegoers to experience."
Dr. Aslan commented, "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Lionsgate. Their vision for 'Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth' is aligned with my objective in writing the book, which was to illuminate the life of Jesus in a humanistic, as opposed to religious, context."
Named as one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly, Zealot challenges long-held assumptions about Jesus. Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Dr. Aslan sheds light on one of history's most influential and enigmatic characters by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. The book was published by Random House Publishing Group in July 2013.
In addition to Zealot, Dr. Aslan's first book, "No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam," is also an international best seller and has been named one of the 100 most important books of the last decade by Blackwell Publishers
