Trailer for new Ben-Hur is up

[Dan Howard]

I suppose the chained galley slaves and ahistorical naval battle were in the original 1880 novel, so there is a certain justification behind it, perhaps (but why does there appear to be a man sitting on the ram of the attacking galley)?

He's not sitting on it.  He's a Roman prisoner tied to the ram.  It's in the silent 1925 version of the film.

Nah he's not a prisoner. He is part of the guidance control system: "Left a bit. Right a bit. That's it boys, ramming speed..."