Gemma Arterton Starring In Like A Virgin

Arterton will play Mary, a young woman who enjoys frequent nights out on the town, getting blind drunk and hooking up. But while still sozzled one raucous night, she gets a surprise visitor – no, not the local constabulary, but the Angel Gabriel who, in true Biblical style, informs her that she’s been chosen to birth the next Messiah. Which, somewhat understandably, comes as a bit of a shock.

The big question is whether a girl who hasn’t seemed ready to grow up herself is prepared to carry and raise the next saviour of the world? Shepherd, who has also written the script, developed the film with the BFI.

Arterton, last seen in The Voices, has a variety of films coming up including World War II comedy Their Finest Hour And A Half, A Hundred Streets, The History Of Love, She Who Brings Gifts and Orpheline.