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Indie financers have signed director Drew Heriot to make his feature debut on "The Aquarian Gospel," a story of Jesus Christ's "missing years" from ages 13 to 30.

William Keenan ("Poor Things") is producing with Thaddeus Carlson co-exec producing the $12 million-$15 million project with plans to use a high-definition format in the vein of "300" with shooting on U.S. soundstages.

Heriot directed self-help documentary "The Secret," which sold more than 2 million DVD copies. John F. Sullivan and Keenan wrote the script, inspired by two books -- "The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ" (1908) by evangelical preacher Levi Dowling and "The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ" (1898) by Russian anthropologist Nicholas Notovich.

Story chronicles Jesus' journeys from Israel through India, Tibet, Persia, Greece and Egypt as he encounters people of all creeds, classes and faiths.

Producers plan on using actors from the Middle East, India, the Far East, Europe and America along with modern-day spiritual leaders in cameo roles, portraying prominent historical and religious figures that Jesus encountered.