Academy Award-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has been cast as the apostle Peter in the upcoming film "Mary Magdalene," which sees Rooney Mara as the titular character and Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus Christ. The actor is known for his award-winning role in "12 Years a Slave" and is set to appear as Baron Mordo in "Doctor Strange."

As reported by The Wrap, Peter is known as one of the most important apostles of Christ. Jesus took Peter, originally a fisherman, as one of his key disciples and later claimed that Peter was his "rock" upon which his church would be built. Peter would go on to become a key figure in numerous Christian religions, including the Roman Catholic church and the numerous Protestant divisions.

In the Bible it is depicted that Peter would later deny his involvement and relationship with Jesus, committing a sin that Jesus had previously told him that he would do once Jesus had been captured by the Romans and by Judas Iscariot. Peter was later forgiven during the resurrection of Christ. 

Peter would later be persecuted during the reign of Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar of Rome. During his crucifixion he requested he be tied and crucified upside down, stating he was not worthy to be crucified in an upright manner similar to how Jesus had died. Peter would later be recognized as the first Pope of the Catholic Church.

As stated in a report from Cinema Blend, there is no confirmed plot synopsis of the film at the time being. Mary Magdalene is notoriously depicted as a reformed prostitute but there are no scriptures from the Bible actually stating this. It is likely the film will take several liberties to further flesh out her story and her connections to Peter and Jesus.

"Mary Magdalene" will release in theaters in 2017.