He’s already busy playing a comically menacing Pharaoh for Shawn Levy’s third Night At The Museum outing (which, given Kingsley’s presence, we’re tempted to rename Knight At The Museum), but Ben Kingsley is set for a more serious take on Egyptian royalty for US cable channel Spike’s new series Tut.
Tut is planned as the channel’s biggest production yet, and its first scripted series for eight years. It’ll shoot in Morocco and Canada and features Kingsley as Ay, the Grand Vizier to King Tutankhamen, who wields more influence than you might expect.
“Who better to lead the cast than one of the greatest actors of our generation – Ben Kingsley,” says Spike’s Sharon Levy in a statement picked up by The Wrap. “The character he plays, Ay, is the true power behind the Tutankhamen throne. We are so fortunate to have an actor of Ben Kingsley‘s stature bring this character to life for Spike.”
Grand Vizier, huh? Bet he's a really nice, kindly man who loves nothing better than to rescue injured puppies. Grand Viziers are famous for their better instincts and impeccable moral standards.
Kingsley has been a busy man of late, shooting roles in Anton Corbijn’s Life, high-wire drama** To Reach The Clouds** and even another Egyptian role, as he’s playing Nun in Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods And Kings, which recently released a trailer. That one will be out on December 26.