Killing Jesus -- first look

I've been meaning to blog about this for a while, but there's another Jesus film on the way this spring -- Killing Jesus.  It's adapted from Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard’s book of the same name and airs on National Geographic.  Here's a "first look":





Like most Bible films in recent years it is filmed out in Ouazazarte.  There are some great actors.  Many of them appear to be British, including John Rhys-Davies as Annas.  Kelsey Grammer as King Herod, with loads of hair, should be great too:

The piece is executive produced by Ridley Scott.  Today's Independent features a story about Jesus (Haaz Sleiman):

Killing Jesus: Muslim-raised actor Haaz Sleiman defends lead role in Ridley Scott miniseries

The casting of Sleiman (who once played a baddie in 24) looks like an inspired bit of casting, though I can't help wondering if that's a false beard:

It's one of the great mercies of Jesus of Nazareth that Robert Powell got rid of his false beard and grew one of his own instead.

Update (10 February, 6.20am): Here's Peter Chattaway's comment on his blog in January.