Ian Holm replaced in Pope biopic

Just to show that I’m not harbouring some anti-religious feeling, and to try and repair the thread of a working relationship with John, here’s a news story about the upcoming Pope biopic from Coming Soon.

Citing personal reasons, Ian Holm has been released from his commitment to play the title role in the CBS mini-series John Paul II, reports Variety. His replacement is Jon Voight. Voight will play John Paul II from his election to the papacy to his death earlier this year. Cary Elwes remains cast as the younger Karol Wojtyla, while James Cromwell, Ben Gazzara, Franco Nero and Charles Danceas have also joined the cast.

It’s interesting if you think of Holms playing the Pope, it seems like a good choice when you consider his style and looks. Voight on the other hand doesn’t, and that intrigues me so much more. The other thing I find interesting, or rather amusing, is the current working title: “Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II” bit over dramatic and I suspect it won’t be the real title, the actual life of the Pope sounds dramatic enough without a Hollywood title.

How about the casting change then? Voight as the Pope?

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