Angels & Demons Takes on Whole New Meaning in Upcoming Legion Film

If there's one thing Hollywood knows how to do, it's to take a great legend or ancient story and expand and exaggerate it into an all-out, explosive, cinematic blockbuster format. And what could make for better action film material than the increasingly popular end-of-the-world conjectures currently making their rounds in American mainstream society and culture? From the 2012 Doomsday Prediction and Global Warming (The Day After Tommorrow-2004) to theories concerning intergalactic attacks from outer space, to the more Bible-based events found in the Book of Revelation, people and civilizations worldwide have been attempting to forecast the mysteries of Earth's final days for untold centuries.

In keeping with the mindset of much of the aforementioned, Hollywood Director/Writer/Producer and Visual Effects guru Scott Stewart (known for his work on Iron Man and Superman Returns) will be helming a silver screen fantasy/horror thriller centering on a group of strangers who must unite to survive the manifestation of a "terrifying biblical apocalypse..." (Plot Summary: Internet Movie Database: www.imdb.com). Interestingly enough, the film's official plot summary is also said to include a pivotal storyline involving a "young [diner] waitress" who discovers she is "pregnant with the messiah..." (IMDB) Talk about controversially interesting!

At this point, little is known concerning any further details relating to plot, as the film is slated for a January 22, 2010 release date. In terms of cast, the Internet Movie Database lists acclaimed actors Dennis Quaid (of recent G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra fame) and Paul Bettany (Firewall-2006, The Da Vinci Code-2006) at the lead. Bettany will be donning the role and guise of Michael the Archangel: a Biblical character who can be found referenced in numerous places throughout Scripture, including Jude 1:9. Actor Kevin Durand (X-Men Origins: Wolverine-2009) will play the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19, Luke 1:26), with actors Tyrese Gibson (of recent Transformers saga fame) and Doug Jones (Marvel's soon-to-be Silver Surfer) joining the project as well.

Further plot research revealed, however, that the Archangel Michael (Bettany) will indeed play a crucial role in the developing story and theme of the film. The flick's official page on Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) cites a variance of the plot in which God "loses his faith in humanity" and employs his host of angels as a means of "Biblical judgment" upon an unsuspecting Earth.

Apparently, Michael the Archangel will ultimately be the one individual standing between thousands of fearful, weak humans and a wrathful God bent on exterminating mankind. Michael will subsequently meet up with the previously mentioned group of strangers, and discover that one of the young women, a diner waitress, is indeed pregnant with Jesus Christ's earthly form in His second coming (Fleming, Michael. "Quaid, Walsh join Stewart's 'Legion': Variety Magazine: www.variety.com).

During one particular theatrical trailer released in promotion of the film, Bettany's character Michael the Archangel is seen saying, "The last time God lost faith in man, He sent the flood. This time, He sent angels."

At a recent San Diego-based Comic Con event, Director Scott Stewart announced, "It's part action movie, it's part supernatural thriller, it's part horror movie. There's some good character drama in it. It's about some big ideas, about some scary stuff, but I hope that it's just a fun rollercoaster ride." (www.christianpost.com). Although the film has not officially been labeled a "Christian" film by either Stewart himself or the film's production companies, many moviegoers are referring to it as such, due in large part to its strong Biblical references and event basis. However, as Stewart so eloquently stated, the flick is a blend of "Terminator and Exorcist" and will mostly be all about "angels with machine guns, really." (Christian Post)

**Author's Personal Note: If you're looking for a more Bible-based action story and depiction of angels entering modern-day society, I suggest reading acclaimed Christian author Frank Peretti's novel Piercing the Darkness (Crossway Books, 1989). It will give you a radical look into demonic and angelic forces battling in the spiritual realm and a new outlook on spiritual warfare.