Ben-Hur remake: Jack Huston to play the lead role in biblical epic

The Boardwalk Empire star will reportedly join Morgan Freeman in the film

Jack Huston is set to be the new Ben-Hur (Getty)

It scooped up an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards when it was remade in 1959 – and more than 50 years later Ben-Hur is to grace the silver screen again with Jack Huston in the lead role.

The Boardwalk Empire actor is reportedly set to step into the shoes of Charlton Heston as a Jewish prince who is betrayed and cast into slavery, according to Deadline.

British Huston, 31, would star alongside Morgan Freeman's Ildarin, the man who teaches Ben-Hur to become a world-class chariot racer in his search for revenge.

MGM and Paramount are yet to cast the role of Messala, the man who condemns his childhood friend.

The epic biblical tale, which is based on Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, is to be directed by Timur Bekmambetov, best known for his 2004 Russian-language film Night Watch.

Mark Burnett, Sean Daniel and Joni Levin are producing, with Keith R Clarke and John Ridley working on the screenplay.

Huston played Richard Harrow in HBO's prohibition drama Boardwalk Empire. His past credits also include American Hustle alongside Jennifer Lawrence, and Kill Your Darlings with Daniel Radcliffe.

Ben-Hur is scheduled for release on 19 February 2016 in the UK and 26 February in the US.