Villena Castle, once a backdrop reminiscent of ancient halls, became a focal point for a new film project. The landscape—olive groves climbing the mountains, sunlit desert-like vistas, and the historic quarters of Cocentaina—set the stage for a production about biblical events. The project, working title Christ’s Passion, drew attention from an American director, Bruce Gardner, and a production company that partnered with local crews in Alicante. All filming activities took place within the province, aligning with a plan to complete the shoot within the coming year.
Gardner and his company, Shorereleased, introduced this narrative through a compact screening that helped illuminate the project’s direction. The lineage of this story connects to a historical film released in Spain during the 1960s, produced by Samuel Bronston under the title King of Kings. In the new adaptation, Gardner interacts with Bronston’s legacy, with the character inspired by the devil brought to life by a dedicated cast. Andrea Bronston, associated with the Bronston family, plays a role in the evolving production narrative, underscoring the continuity between past and present cinema projects.
The director, who spends part of the year in Miami, connected with filmmaker and collector Luis Colombo, who also hails from the Alicante region, to coordinate the project. The collaboration extended to Antonio Mayans, an actor known for his work on Bronston’s earlier projects. Colombo Movies coordinated location scouting and material arrangements because many contractual elements—costumes, set pieces, and on-location logistics—relied on provincial partnerships throughout the shoot.
City-wide shooting
Gardner arrived in Alicante in early May and wrapped up the long-planned teaser scenes by the end of June. Crafting a devotional film set in 1st-century Judea within a modern tourist region posed real challenges, yet the team highlighted the province’s versatile scenery as a defining asset. The producer and local collaborators emphasized that the chosen sites could convincingly depict the period while accommodating contemporary visitors and businesses alike. This balance was a central talking point in ongoing discussions with investors and regional partners [Citation: production notes, promotional brief].
The project, known for its connections to the classic King of Kings in Bronston’s catalog, has inspired comparisons to other large-scale biblical epics. Scenes partly shot in Denia, overseen by a North American director, drew on local talent and resources to ensure historical accuracy while maintaining a narrative pace suitable for modern audiences. The project has drawn parallels with other contemporary epic dramas noted for their ambitious scope and updated production values [Citation: archival film histories].
The production language remains English, though the cast includes local Spanish actors who bring familiarity with regional dialects and landscapes. Actors such as Fer Corral and Iván Gisbert, among others, contributed to the authenticity of performances and the overall texture of the film. The creative team considered language and pronunciation a practical element for an international audience, without compromising regional storytelling sensibilities [Citation: cast interviews].
With post-production underway in Miami, the team is preparing the trailer as part of investor outreach. The aim is to secure continued financing to complete principal photography in the chosen historical sites, re-creating the arc of events from two millennia ago within the same geographic footprint. The producers envision a broader shoot plan that could extend into additional locations in the province, leveraging the timeless allure of the landscape to anchor a modern cinematic experience [Citation: production brief and investor presentation].