How was William Wyler connected to both the 1925 and 1959 versions of Ben-Hur?

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William Wyler’s connection to the Ben-Hur franchise spans the early and later stages of his career, linking the silent era to the height of the Hollywood studio system:

1925 Version: Early in his career, Wyler served as an assistant director on Fred Niblo’s silent epic Ben-Hur (1925), which was one of the most expensive films of the silent era.12
1959 Version: Decades later, Wyler directed the acclaimed 1959 MGM remake of Ben-Hur. This massive production became one of the most expensive films ever made at the time and earned Wyler his third Academy Award for best director.32