Matrix Producer has plans for Islam biopic

Having already produced such cinematic spectacles as The Matrix, Lord of the Rings and Dick Tracy it’s clear Barrie Osborne is used to a challenge, but his next movie could be his steepest climb yet.

This time, the 65-year old, Oscar-winning producer is developing a movie on one of Islam’s most revered figures, the prophet Muhammad.

With a budget of $150m, the new movie will feature English-speaking Muslim actors in a respectful retelling of the great prophet’s life. New York-born Osborne told the UK’s Guardian newspaper the project will be, “an international epic that will educate people on the true meaning of Islam.”

But even though it’s not due to start lensing until 2011 the movie already has problems – The firm providing the financing, Qatar-based production company Alnoor Holdings, has chosen Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi to ensure the movie obeys the rules of Islam, such as never showing Muhammad on-screen.

But the man has some issues.

A regular host on the ‘al Jazeera’ network, Al-Qaradawi is on record as supporting both the Holocaust and the stoning of gays, and has also praised the acts of Iraqi suicide bombers. As a result of these views the Sheikh has been banned from ever entering Britain again.

And the storm’s not over yet — Another producer, Oscar Zoghbi recently announced plans to remake his 1976, Islam-based drama, ‘The Message.’ The original caused riots in Washington DC that left two people dead, and Zoghbi now wants to shoot the remake, called ‘The Messenger of Peace,’  in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

…The man sure has some nerve…