David and Goliath' Director Assures Big-Budget Movie Will Be Biblically Accurate

Tim Chey, the director behind the upcoming big-budget "David and Goliath" film, told The Christian Post in an exclusive interview that the project is set to be "biblically correct in every way," and that he hopes audiences will be moved to tears when they see it.

The film, which is to be shot in Morocco is said to have a $50 million dollar budget and is currently scheduled for an early 2015 nationwide theater release. Chey has directed and produced nine feature films, including the $20 million "Carry Me Home" (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), coming out nationwide in December, "Suing the Devil' (Malcolm McDowell), and "Genius Club" (Stephen Baldwin).

While traveling from London to Casablanca, Chey shared his faith background and how it inspired the decision to get involved with the "David and Goliath" movie:

I was a former atheist who found Christ in a hotel room after reading a Gideon's Bible in Manila. I never looked back after that. Our production company has had this film "David and Goliath" in the works for almost 11 years. We realized to film it right we needed to shoot the film on a grand scale (much like "Lawrence of Arabia"). It's one of the most incredible stories in the Bible about faith. In this case, it was much greater than a mustard seed.

Acknowledging the recent controversy around Noah, he noted the importance of accuracy:

First off, it will be biblically correct in every way. But I want to show more of the cruelty of who the Philistines were and who Goliath was through historical data. Also, I want to flesh out the powerful fear Goliath instilled on Saul's army. Also David's brothers – the incredible tears they must have shed knowing the little brother was going to take on the 9-foot warrior. It could have been a Shakespearean tragedy, but turned into a victory through God.

He also addresses the importance of quality to attract a mass audience:

The mass audience is used to the best acting, the best visual effects, and the best epic filmmaking. To me, filmmaking is like playing professional basketball. It takes years of training and then ultimately, talent to do it. To get super-talented filmmakers who passionately love the Lord is a rare commodity. And to get super-talented filmmakers, who passionately love the Lord, and can raise millions of dollars, is next to impossible. This is why Christian films are looked down upon. However, even if a small cheesy film can win just one person to Christ, then let's be careful not to mock it like so many cruel Christians do.

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson In Talks For GOLIATH, Taylor Lautner Offered David

Is the world ready for the return of the Biblical epic?  Darren Aronofsky has been in the news plenty in recent days with his ambitious Noah project while on a much more mainstream Hollywood front director Scott Derrickson (The Day The Earth Stood Still) was attached earlier this year to direct Goliath for Relativity Media and Temple Hill Entertainment.

If you're going to tell the story of the giant versus the shepherd boy you'd best find yourself an impressive giant and it would appear that Relativity have done just that with sources telling Twitch that they are now in talks with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to fill the role. As for the other side of the standoff things are not as advanced but word is that an offer has been made to Taylor Lautner to fill the part of David, which comes as no surprise given that Twilight producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are also involved in this project.

For the record, Johnson stands 6'5" while Lautner is 5'10".