Hollywood has some experience with movies purporting Jesus Christ to have been involved with Mary Magdalene, even to have had children by her—anyone remember The Da Vinci Code?—but, apparently, it hasn't had enough. Not one but two new films will explore the concept—and both of them just happen to be based on comic books.

The more high profile of the two is likely to be Rex Mundi, based on the graphic novel of the same name and starring Johnny Depp, who will also produce. The film, currently in need of a director, is said to involve both "descendants of Jesus" and a search for the Holy Grail. The film is reportedly set "in an alternate history where Martin Luther was assassinated, the Reformation never took place, and the Catholic Church still reigns supreme." The graphic novel itself takes place in the 1930s, "in a world where the Inquisition still runs rampant, Europe is ruled by monarchs, but magic manages to exist." Depp reportedly was interested in the project "not because he's a comic reader, but because he's keenly interested in the Templar Knights."

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter notes that another, similarly-themed comic book—The Magdalena—is being adapted into a movie, one that will tell the story of "a hot, holy warrior," a "woman who discovers that she's a part of the lineage of female warriors descended from Mary Magdalene who fight supernatural evil." In the comic book, Jesus is said to have married Magdalene and had children with her. Jenna Dewan will star in the movie alongside Luke Goss, who in recent years has gone from playing a biblical character (Xerxes in One Night with The King) to a demon (Prince Nuada in Hellboy II) to an "agent sent by the secret organization that has been the guardian of the lineage."

In other movie news:

Braveheart screenwriter to direct Secretariat for Disney (Variety)
Script written by Nativity Story scribe Mike Rich

Harry Potter 6 pushed back to next summer (Deadline Hollywood)
Half-Blood Prince was originally slated for this November

Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsborough cast in Antichrist (Paste)
Supernatural thriller coming from Lars von Trier

Mark Ruffalo directing film about faith-healing (Variety)
Starring with James Franco in Sympathy for Delicious

Bernie Mac's wife, daughter were with him (People)
Widow Rhonda's "faith is what's sustaining her"

The Incredibles return—in comic-book form (Cinematical)
Pixar teaming with Boom! for new comic book spin-offs

Christian Bale off the hook in assault case (AP)
Charges dropped again Dark Knight star, insufficient evidence

Left Behind legal disputes end (Christian Post)
LaHaye, Cloud Ten reach agreement; could lead to new films

Martin Freeman to star in Nativity (Variety)
Comedy about two English schools competing for best Christmas pageant

Steve Carell, Tina Fey to star in Date Night (Variety)
Playing married couple in Shawn Levy-directed comedy

Mike Myers joins Tarantino's WWII film (Tarantino Archives)
Joining Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Simon Pegg

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