INSPIRED by the Scripture and rooted in history, “The Young Messiah” imagines the boyhood of Jesus Christ.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, the film follows the inspiring and unique story of seven-year-old Jesus and His family as they come to a fuller understanding of His divine nature and purpose. Remaining true to the character of Jesus revealed in the Bible, it is an inspirational story for the whole family.

Up-and-coming young actor Adam Greaves-Neal plays Jesus.

On developing the story, Nowrasteh noted there was a rich history of Jesus movies that dramatized Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion, but none had ever glimpsed into His life as a boy.

“Obviously there are great challenges in depicting this because we know very little about Jesus’ childhood,” Nowrasteh said. “This movie seeks to present a realistic portrait of Jesus rooted in faith. Scripture is the inspiration for the emotions and actions of the boy Jesus as they are envisioned in our story. We do this with respect and reverence in order to imagine a child consistent with Jesus as revealed in the Bible.”

The story covers one year in Jesus’ life when he was only a child. With the Holy Land in turmoil, Jesus and his family have to leave Egypt for their home in Israel. Joseph and Mary are fully aware of the dangers of their world: a corrupt King Herod, civil unrest and a brutal occupying Roman force.

“While we hope that our film finds a place alongside other Jesus classics, it’s more important to us that it inspires people to visit, or revisit, the Jesus story from a fresh new angle,” said Nowrasteh. “As believers, we hope that children will be attracted by another child’s story—Jesus’ story—and that this can be a ‘Passion of the Christ’ for the entire family. We even hope that, in some small way, our film leads viewers to the transformation and grace that Jesus extends to us all.”

From Pioneer Films, “The Young Messiah” opens nationwide on April 20.