Mary Magdalene trailer: See Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ

The next film from the director of Lion

Universal has released the first trailer for Garth Davis' Mary Magdalene.

It sees Joaquin Phoenix step into the lofty role of Jesus Christ, while Rooney Mara plays the titular protagonist.

Magdalene was a Jewish woman who, according to the New Testament, travelled with Jesus as one of his followers, witnessing the alleged crucifixion and resurrection. She is named 12 times in the four Gospels - more than most of the apostles.

The official synopsis is as follows:

'MARY MAGDALENE is an authentic and humanistic portrait of one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood spiritual figures in history. The biblical biopic tells the story of Mary (Rooney Mara), a young woman in search of a new way of living. Constricted by the hierarchies of the day, Mary defies her traditional family to join a new social movement led by the charismatic Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix). She soon finds a place for herself within the movement and at the heart of a journey that will lead to Jerusalem.'

During the Middle Ages, Magdalene was regarded in Western Christianity as a repentant prostitute.

Chiwetel Ejiofor co-stars as Peter. Davis (best known for Lion) directs a script from Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett.