# The origin of Ben-Hur

> The new Ben-Hur series promises details from the original story. Discover the novel's origins and the themes behind more than a century of adaptations.

URL: https://blog.univervideo.com/a-origem-de-ben-hur?lang=en
Idioma: en
Publicado em: 2026-05-14
Autor: Editorial team
Categoria: Ben-Hur

![The Origin of Ben-Hur](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-f0a994d3c75fe729.png)

If you know **Ben-Hur** only through the films, you may not yet have seen everything this story truly has to teach you… 😌

Have you ever wondered why **Ben-Hur** has continued to be adapted for more than a century? And more importantly, what will set apart the new **Ben-Hur** series, to be released in September on Univer Vídeo? 👀

In November 1880, *Lew Wallace* published **Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ** (in Brazil: “**Ben-Hur: Uma História de Cristo**”). Although it was not an immediate success, the work gained momentum in the following years and attracted increasingly more readers in the United States. By the turn of the twentieth century, **Ben-Hur** was already considered one of the most influential Christian novels of its time and, for decades, ranked among the country's bestselling works of fiction, behind only the Bible.

![The Origin of Ben-Hur](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-8eb58cef27bce34c.jpg)

**But why was this story written?**

The book emerged at a time when the United States was still trying to rebuild after the Civil War. *Wallace* created a story combining adventure, faith, politics and redemption—not just to entertain, but also to prompt reflection in every reader.

**⤷** Interestingly, when he began writing **Ben-Hur**, *Lew Wallace* did not yet hold Christian convictions. However, while researching the life of **Jesus** and the biblical events of the period, the author drew closer to faith and became a Christian.

This story has endured for more than a century, and there are at least 4 adaptations of **Ben-Hur**, one of them a winner of 11 Oscars.

![The Origin of Ben-Hur](https://blog.univervideo.com/imagens/strapi-ec41b402116beb8a.jpg)
*|* ***Vinícius Redd*** *will play* ***Judah Ben-Hur*** *in Univer Video's new adaptation*

The work helped audiences see forgiveness, compassion and personal transformation as themes above revenge.

Now… did you know that the films do not tell the entire story of the original book? 😱 Although many people know **Ben-Hur** through the rivalry between **Judah** and **Messala**, that part of the story occupies only half the narrative. The work's true center is how **Judah Ben-Hur** comes to understand **God's** plans through **Jesus**.

📜 The original story also delves deeply into the historical context of the time:   
The narrative covers the **three wise men from the East**, **Herod**, **Mary** and **Joseph**, the political conflicts involving the Zealots and even **Judah's** relationship with **Iras**, the Egyptian woman who captivated him. Many of these elements were reduced or even removed from film adaptations over the decades.

But in Univer Vídeo's version… nothing will be omitted. 😎  
Prepare to discover **Ben-Hur** as you have never seen it before.

**🐴 Ben-Hur** | in October | Only on UNIVER Vídeo