Biblical movie given last minute reprieve

Biblical film Kingdom Come has a chance at resurrection with plans to liquidate the production company postponed until the end of May.

An application to liquidate the film's production company, South Vineyard, was made in December.

Creditors have been calmed with promises of a $100,000 payment and indications that Christian backers from the United States will stump up with another $4 million so the company can continue with the project, which is being made in New Zealand, The Dominion Post reported.

Lawyer Stephen Brown, representing a group of creditors, told the High Court at Wellington yesterday that South Vineyard was insolvent and owed $4.5m.

Creditors did not want to put the company into liquidation, provided their interests were met, he said.

The promised funds would repay all debts in New Zealand, maintain the movie sets, and enable a new management structure to be brought in to finish and release the movie.

Associate Judge David Gendall agreed to a final adjournment of liquidation proceedings till May 31 to provide time for a rescue package.

The film was to have been filmed in various locations around New Zealand, including Falstone on the shore of Lake Benmore in south Canterbury.

Falstone was to have become Capernaum, a 3000-year-old fishing village, and Lake Benmore the Sea of Galilee in the Biblical movie.

- NZPA