after wallace's novel was published in 1880, there was widespread demand for it to be adapted for the stage, but wallace resisted for nearly twenty years, arguing that no one could accurately portray christ on stage or recreate a realistic chariot race. in 1899, following three months of negotiations, wallace entered into agreement with theatrical producers marc klaw and a. l. erlanger to adapt his novel into a stage production. wallace would receive two thirds of the royalties from the production, while harper and brothers, the book's publisher, would receive one third.