Long before he was tearing through the streets of New Orleans as the hybrid king Klaus Mikaelson, Joseph Morgan was strapped into a chariot.
It’s a weird bit of TV history. Most people associate the name Ben-Hur with Charlton Heston’s massive 1959 spectacle or maybe that 2016 big-budget flop. But in 2010, a two-part miniseries slipped onto the airwaves with a young, relatively unknown Joseph Morgan in the title role. Honestly, if you blinked, you probably missed it.
The Joseph Morgan Ben Hur era was a strange, transitional moment for the actor and the genre. It wasn't the "Old Hollywood" epic your grandparents loved. It wasn't quite the CGI-heavy mess of modern blockbusters either. Instead, it was this gritty, character-focused take that tried to do something different with a story we’ve all seen a dozen times.
The Judah Ben-Hur Nobody Expected
When you think of Judah Ben-Hur, you usually think of a hulking, square-jawed hero. Joseph Morgan brought something else. He was wiry. He was intense.
At the time, Morgan was only in his late twenties. He had a few credits, like a small role in Master and Commander, but he wasn't a "star" yet. Taking on a role previously held by Charlton Heston is a death wish for most actors. You’re basically asking to be compared to a mountain.
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But Morgan’s Judah wasn’t a mountain. He was a guy fueled by pure, unadulterated spite. The 2010 miniseries, directed by Steve Shill (who worked on The Wire and Dexter), leaned heavily into the "swords and sandals" vibe that was popular post-Gladiator. It was less about the religious subtext and more about the brutal reality of being a galley slave.
Why the 2010 Miniseries Felt Different
The production didn't have the $15 million budget for a single scene like the '59 version. They had to be smart. They filmed in Morocco, which gave the whole thing a dusty, lived-in feel that felt more authentic than a soundstage in Italy.
The cast was actually stacked, even if it didn't feel like it at the time. Look at this lineup:
- Stephen Campbell Moore as Messala (Judah’s former best friend turned mortal enemy)
- Emily VanCamp as Esther
- Kristin Kreuk as Tirzah
- Ray Winstone as Quintus Arrius
- Hugh Bonneville as Pontius Pilate
Seeing Hugh Bonneville—the lovable Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey—playing a cold, calculating Pontius Pilate is a trip. But the heart of the thing was the chemistry between Morgan and Moore.
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In this version, the betrayal feels personal. Messala isn't just a "bad Roman." He’s a guy who feels overshadowed by Judah’s family and chooses his career over his conscience. It’s a messy, human conflict. Joseph Morgan plays Judah’s descent into obsession perfectly. You can see the seeds of Klaus Mikaelson in the way he glares at his enemies. It’s that same "I will burn this world down to get what I want" energy.
The Chariot Race: Can You Even Compete?
Let’s be real. If you’re making a Ben-Hur movie, people are only there for the horses.
The 1959 chariot race is arguably the greatest action sequence ever filmed. The 2010 miniseries knew it couldn't beat that. So, it didn't try to. Instead of a 15-minute epic, the Joseph Morgan Ben Hur race is faster, tighter, and way more violent. It’s less about the "glory" of the sport and more about two guys trying to murder each other with wheels.
Critics at the time were split. Some called it "Ben-Hur Lite." Others appreciated that it didn't drag on for four hours. It’s roughly 180 minutes across two episodes, which is a brisk pace for this story.
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Where to Find Joseph Morgan’s Judah Today
Tracking this miniseries down is kind of a hunt. It doesn't live permanently on the big streaming giants like Netflix or Max. Usually, you have to find it on Prime Video (sometimes under the "Freevee" banner) or pick up a dusty DVD from a bargain bin.
It’s worth the search, though. Not because it’s a masterpiece—it has its flaws, for sure—but because it’s a fascinating look at an actor on the verge of his big break. You see Morgan figuring out how to lead a massive production. You see the intensity that would eventually make him a household name in the supernatural teen drama world.
If you’re a fan of The Originals, watching this is basically required viewing. It’s the origin story of Joseph Morgan’s "intense stare."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Viewers
If you’re planning to dive into the 2010 Ben-Hur, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Adjust your expectations. This is a TV miniseries, not a $200 million feature film. The CGI for the Roman ships is... okay, but the practical sets in Morocco are great.
- Watch for the "Klaus" moments. Pay attention to the scenes where Judah is in the slave galleys. Morgan’s ability to convey suffering and rage without saying a word is exactly why he got cast in The Vampire Diaries shortly after.
- Compare the endings. Without spoiling too much, the 2010 version handles the "forgiveness" aspect of the story a bit differently than the Heston version. It feels a bit more grounded in the personal relationship between Judah and Messala.
- Check the runtime. It was originally aired as two parts. Some streaming versions might have it edited into one long "movie," so make sure you’ve got a three-hour window.
The Joseph Morgan Ben Hur miniseries remains a hidden gem for fans of historical drama. It’s a gritty, stripped-back version of a classic that proves you don’t need a thousand extras to tell a compelling story about betrayal and revenge.
If you want to see the performance that paved the way for one of TV's most iconic villains, go find a copy. It's better than you remember, and Joseph Morgan is, as always, doing the absolute most with every second of screen time.