The Bible (miniseries)

Last updated

The Bible
The Bible - Title Card.jpg
Genre Biblical epic
Drama
Created by Roma Downey
Mark Burnett
Based on Catholic Bible
Directed by Roma Downey
Mark Burnett
Starring Diogo Morgado
Roma Downey
Darwin Shaw
Andrew Scarborough
Narrated by Keith David (US version)
Robert Powell (UK version)
Theme music composer Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe
Lisa Gerrard
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish
Hebrew
No. of episodes10
Production
ProducersRoma Downey
Mark Burnett
Richard Bedser
Dirk Hoogstra
Julian P. Hobbs
CinematographyChristopher Titus King
Rob Goldie
Peter Greenhalgh
EditorsRobert Hall
Iain Kitching
Tom Parsons
Julian Rodd
Dominic Strevens
Running time440 minutes
Production company Lightworkers Media
BudgetUnder $22 million [1]
Original release
Network History
ReleaseMarch 3 (2013-03-03) –
March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)
Related

The Bible is a television miniseries based on the Bible. It was produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett [2] [3] and was broadcast weekly between March 3 and 31, 2013 on History channel. [4] It has since been adapted as a feature film, Son of God .

Contents

Burnett, best known for producing prime-time hit reality shows, considers the scripted 10-hour series to be the "most important" project he has undertaken. The project was conceived by Burnett and Downey after watching Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 film The Ten Commandments for the first time since childhood.

The series is Mark Burnett's first scripted project. [5] In addition to Burnett and Downey, executive producers include Richard Bedser and History's Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs. [6] The first episode of the mini-series was seen by 13.1 million viewers, the largest cable television audience of 2013 to date. [7] The second installment continued "to deliver blockbuster ratings" for the network, attracting 10.8 million viewers. The third installment on March 17, 2013, was once again the No. 1 show on all of Sunday night television with 10.9 million total viewers. In addition, the series garnered 4.2 million adults 25–54 and 3.5 million adults 18–49. [8] In total, with subsequent airings, The Bible has received more than 100 million cumulative views.

The series received three Emmy Award nominations for best miniseries, and sound editing and sound mixing on July 18, 2013. [9]

Parts of the telecast – including unaired footage – have been turned into a feature film about the life of Jesus entitled Son of God . [10] A sequel series with the title A.D. The Bible Continues aired on NBC. [11]

Description

The series covers "Genesis to Revelation" in "one grand narrative," [1] structured as ten hour-long episodes broadcast in five pairs, [12] with each episode containing two or three biblical stories told through live action and computer-generated imagery. [2] [3] According to Burnett, it included "obvious" stories such as Noah's Ark, the Exodus, and the life of Jesus Christ. [2] Five hours are taken from the Old Testament, five from the New. [1] The series is based on the New International Version and the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. [3]

Downey and Burnett said their "greatest hope" in making the series was that it would "affect a new generation of viewers and draw them back to the Bible." [13]

"Part of what we hoped to accomplish with the series was to show the Bible is not simply a collection of unconnected stories which are often discussed and analyzed in snippets with chapter and verse numbers," the couple wrote in an op-ed in The Huffington Post. "Instead, we wanted to show how the Old Testament connects seamlessly to the New Testament. How they are one sweeping story with one grand, overriding message: God loves each one of us as if we were the only person in all the world to love." [14]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S.
viewers
(in millions)
1"Beginnings"Crispin ReeceRichard Bedser
Alexander Marengo
Colin Swash
Nic Young		March 3, 2013 (2013-03-03)13.10 [15]
While aboard the ark, Noah tells of the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, the fall of man and Cain murdering Abel (Genesis 1-4; 6-8); Abrahamic covenant; the Battle of the Vale of Siddim (Genesis 14); Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16); birth of Isaac (Genesis 21); Abraham is tested (Genesis 22); Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).
2"Exodus"Crispin ReeceRichard Bedser
Alexander Marengo		March 3, 2013 (2013-03-03)13.10 [15]
During the time of Egyptian slavery, Moses learns of his roots, kills a soldier and flees Egypt (Exodus 2); God speaks to Moses through the burning bush (Exodus 3); Moses returns to Egypt; ten Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7-11); Moses leads the Israelites in The Exodus; Moses parts the Red Sea (Exodus 14); Moses receives the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20).
3"Homeland"Tony MitchellRichard Bedser
Adam Rosenthal
Nic Young		March 10, 2013 (2013-03-10)10.80 [16]
Joshua becomes the leader of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 31; Joshua 1); the Israelites camp outside of Jericho; Joshua sends spies into Jericho (Joshua 2); Joshua invades and conquers Jericho (Joshua 6); Delilah betrays Samson, a hero of the Israelites who battled against the Philistines (Judges 13-16).
4"Kingdom"Tony MitchellRichard Bedser
Colin Swash
Nic Young		March 10, 2013 (2013-03-10)10.80 [16]
Samuel anoints Saul as king, a move that could throw the nation into civil war (1 Samuel 15); Saul is consumed with jealousy over the crown when David defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17); King David ushers a golden age for Israel, but is soon seduced by power and lust for Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11); God forgives David, and Solomon builds God's temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6).
5"Survival"Crispin ReeceRichard Bedser
Nic Young		March 17, 2013 (2013-03-17)10.90 [8]
The Jews are enslaved in Babylon (Jeremiah 39); the image of gold and the three Hebrews in the blazing furnace (Daniel 3); Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den, but when his faith endures and God spares him (Daniel 6); the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36; Ezra 1).
6"Hope"Crispin ReeceRichard Bedser
Nic Young		March 17, 2013 (2013-03-17)10.90 [8]
During the time of Roman occupation, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear a child (Luke 1); Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus is born (Luke 2); the Holy family escapes Herod’s order to kill Bethlehem’s male babies (Matthew 2); Judea comes under the ruthless rule of Pilate; John baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3); Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4); Jesus performs the miraculous catch of fish and calls Peter (Matthew 4).
7"Mission"Christopher SpencerRichard Bedser
Christopher Spencer
Nic Young		March 24, 2013 (2013-03-24)10.30 [17]
Jesus heals a paralytic and forgives the paralyticś sins, Jesus calls a tax collector, Matthew as a disciple, Jesus feeds crowds of thousands in Galilee (Matthew 14), walks on water and brings a dead man, Lazarus, back to life (John 11); Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey – a declaration that he is the Messiah; Jesus turns on the money-changers in the Temple (Mark 11).
8"Betrayal"Christopher SpencerRichard Bedser
Christopher Spencer
Colin Swash
Nic Young		March 24, 2013 (2013-03-24)10.30 [17]
Caiphas coaxes Judas into betraying Jesus; Jesus throws the disciples into turmoil at the Last Supper; Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14); Jesus is arrested and Malchus' ear is cut off by Peter and Jesus heals his ear; Jesus is confronted by the high priests at his Sanhedrin trial (Matthew 26).
9"Passion"Christopher SpencerRichard Bedser
Christopher Spencer
Abraham Christen Liando
Colin Swash
Nic Young		March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)11.70 [18]
Peter denies Jesus (Luke 22) and Judas hangs himself; Pilate's wife has a dream and warns Pilate not to crucify Jesus (Matthew 27); Pilate has Jesus whipped 40 times and the crown of thorns are placed on Jesus' head (John 19); Jesus is condemned to death (Matthew 27); Jesus is crucified; Jesus is buried (John 19).
10"Courage"Tony MitchellRichard Bedser
Christopher Spencer
Nic Young		March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31)11.70 [18]
Mary Magdalene goes to his tomb, a figure walks towards her – He is back (John 20); Jesus commissions the disciples to "go and preach to all" before he ascends (Acts 1). The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost (Acts 2); Stephen is stoned by the Pharisee Paul (Acts 7); Paul has a vision and experiences a miraculous change of faith on a journey to Damascus (Acts 9); martyrdom of the Disciples, John's survival and exile to Patmos, John receives a revelation – Jesus is coming back, and all who keep the faith will be rewarded.

Development

Mark Burnett in 2009 MarkBurnettJuly09.jpg
Mark Burnett in 2009

In May 2011, The New York Times reported that Downey, Burnett and their production team were selecting stories for the series, with production scheduled to begin in 2012 for a 2013 broadcast. [2] The budget for the series was under $22 million. [1] Researchers and theologians were asked to verify accuracy. [2] Academic consultants included Craig A. Evans, [19] Helen Bond, Paula Gooder, Mark Goodacre and Candida Moss. [20] Shooting took place in Morocco and elsewhere. [3]

Burnett and Downey consulted "a wide range of pastors and academics," including their friend Joel Osteen, Joshua Garroway (a rabbi from Hebrew Union College), and a Catholic cardinal. [1] Geoff Tunnicliffe of the World Evangelical Alliance, read each episode's script and visited the set in Morocco: he "wanted to be sure that the final edits would hold together as a singular thematic message throughout the entire series" and "was not disappointed." [21] Another consultant, Focus on the Family President Jim Daly, applauded the couple's courage for making the series: "Let's face it, it takes some moxie to lift up the Bible in the middle of Hollywood. In fact, when they first proposed the project they were told to try and tell the story without mentioning Jesus. They refused." [22]

Other project advisors included: [23]

Days before the series premiere, Downey and Burnett authored an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal arguing that Bible teaching should be mandatory in U.S. public schools because "(t)he foundations of knowledge of the ancient world – which informs the understanding of the modern world – are biblical in origin." [24]

Reception

TV ratings

The opening episode of the series premiered to very high ratings. [25] The miniseries was watched by 13.1 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. [25] In Canada, the premiere was watched by 1.05 million viewers. [26] The second installment saw a ratings slippage, but still brought in 10.8 million viewers, tops in all television for the 8–10 p.m. time period. [16] Week three's installment, meanwhile, garnered 10.9 million total viewers. [8]

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 14% of critics have given the series a positive review based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 4.63/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "An earnest but shallow take on the Greatest Story ever Told, The Bible suffers from leaden pacing and mediocre special effects." [27] At Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [28]

Allan Yuhas of The Guardian compared the series to reality TV, as well as criticizing the lack of ethnic minorities in major roles. [29]

Distribution

On March 19, 2013, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett offered remarks on the viewership and its anticipated diffusion. He said: "We've realized, on the journey around the country to churches and all over the place, many people cannot afford cable TV. And those people need to see this Bible series. So we're rushing the DVD out April 2nd, also immediately with Spanish subtitles. This is very important. And this is only for America and Canada. Now we're about to start around the world. This will be in every country of the world. More people will see this series than everything we ever made; together, combined. Billions of people will see this series. Billions." [30]

Differences from the Bible

In the introduction to each episode, the message is displayed "This program is an adaptation of Bible stories that changed our world. It endeavors to stay true to the spirit of the Book." [31] Roma Downey stated in an interview, "we had a great team of scholars and theologians helping us, making sure that we told these stories accurately and truthfully". [32] A few of the cases of artistic license that have raised comment include:

  • In the Bible, Noah's three sons are fully grown men, whereas in the TV series they are depicted as boys.
  • Abraham is depicted as begging his nephew Lot not to part ways with him, whereas in Genesis they part amicably and Abraham is encouraging of Lot's decision.
  • In the Book of Genesis, the angelic visitors were approached by Lot who insisted that they stay with him. Then they feasted with Lot in his home. The series shows the angels approaching Lot, begging for help with no hospitality extended to them. [33] (Genesis 19:1-5)
  • The text describes a mob gathered outside of Lot's home wanting to rape his two angelic visitors, and Lot offering his daughters instead. The series omits this. [34] (Genesis 19:4-10)
  • The series shows Sarah running after Abraham once she realizes he is going to sacrifice Isaac. This is not in the text. [35] (Genesis 22:1-19)
  • In the Binding of Isaac, the text describes a ram (adult) caught by its horns in a thicket. The miniseries depicts a juvenile lamb caught by its leg. [36] (Genesis 22:13)
  • Moses's sister Miriam is depicted as a slave and as younger than him, while in the biblical story she is significantly older and has been watching out for him since he was a baby.
  • The Bible text says that Samson tied torches on 300 foxes' tails causing them to burn the Philistines' crops and plants. This was because Samson was angry with his father-in-law for giving his wife to another man. When they heard this they burned Samson's wife and her father to death (Judges 15: 4–6). In the series the Philistine commander has Samson's wife and her father put to death as a consequence for marrying Samson, who was an Israelite.
  • The incident in which Saul makes an unlawful sacrifice to God before the prophet Samuel arrives takes place before the famous Battle of Michmash. In the Bible, it was when he spared King Agag of the Amalekites that Saul was denounced as king by Samuel and the Lord, several years after King Saul's unlawful sacrifice.
  • When the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem, Jeremiah is depicted as escaping unnoticed by the invaders. In the text Jeremiah is captured, bound in chains and later released. [36] (Jeremiah 39:11-40:6)
  • The show depicts Daniel and his three compatriots being captured during the siege, when they were deported more than a decade before Jerusalem's destruction. [36] (Daniel 1; 2 Kings 24:10-16)
  • The miniseries depicts the prophet Isaiah as a contemporary of Daniel, living during the time of the Babylonian exile. This is a major inconsistency with the text as Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus the Persian would release the captives after a period of time. This prophecy occurred 150 years before Cyrus was born, 180 years before Cyrus performed any of these feats, and 80 years before the Jews were taken into exile. [37] meaning that Isaiah could never have existed contemporaneously—that is, at the same time—as Daniel and Cyrus. (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1; 45:13).
  • In the miniseries' depiction of the Temptation of Christ, the Devil took Jesus to a high mountain when he tempted Jesus to throw himself down. In the text, the Devil tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. The high mountain was where the devil tempted Jesus to worship him. [32] [36] (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)
  • In the Bible, Jesus had the mourners remove the stone, and then he called for Lazarus to come out. In the miniseries, Jesus enters Lazarus' tomb and kisses him on the head, while not even addressing Lazarus, and gives a brand-new monologue. (John 11:38-44) [38]

Lookalike controversy

There have been claims of a resemblance of the actor in the role of Satan (Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni) to then-U.S. President Barack Obama. The resemblance was first pointed out notably by Glenn Beck ahead of the episode's premiere. [39] This led the History Channel to announce:

History [C]hannel has the highest respect for President Obama. The Bible series was produced with an international and diverse cast of respected actors. It's unfortunate that anyone made this false connection. History’s "The Bible" is meant to enlighten people on its rich stories and deep history." [40]

Burnett and Downey responded in a joint statement that "This is utter nonsense" and that the actor, Mehdi Ouazanni, had previously played Satanic characters long before Barack Obama was elected as president. [40] Downey added separately:

"Both Mark and I have nothing but respect and love for our president, who is a fellow Christian. False statements such as these are just designed as a foolish distraction to try and discredit the beauty of the story of The Bible." [41]

In the film Son of God, all scenes with Satan were deleted. Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Roma Downey said,

"It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the devil is on the cutting-room floor. This is now a movie about Jesus, the son of God, and the devil gets no more screen time."

Awards and nominations

The Bible was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie. [42] The 44th GMA Dove Awards gave a tribute to the miniseries in October 2013.[ citation needed ] In 2014, The Bible won the honor of Home Media Magazine's Best Miniseries or TV Movie on Disc for the year. [43] It was also awarded the Epiphany Prize® for Inspiring Television and the Grace Award(presented to Roma Downey) by MovieGuide at their 2014 MovieGuide Awards. [44]

Other media

International broadcasts

DVD release

The series became the biggest-selling miniseries on DVD in its first week of release, and biggest on Blu-ray and Digital HD of all time. In its first week on home video, The Bible series sold 525,000 copies. It was the fastest selling television show on DVD since 2008. [47] A Blu-ray version is also available via 20th Century Fox.

Novel

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have also released a novelization of this miniseries, entitled A Story of God and All of Us: A Novel Based on the Epic TV Miniseries "The Bible." It debuted at No. 27 on the New York Times Best-Seller List. [48]

Soundtrack

The Bible: Music Inspired by the Epic Miniseries
Soundtrack album

A CD was released on March 12, 2013, with Christian music singers performing songs inspired by the miniseries: [49]

The Bible (Music Inspired by the Epic Miniseries)
No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel Francesca Battistelli 5:08
2."Live Like That"David Frey
Ben Glover
Ben McDonald		 Sidewalk Prophets 3:57
3."This Side of Heaven" Chris August Chris August2:57
4."Starting Line" Jason Castro
Phillip LaRue
Seth Mosley 		Jason Castro3:32
5."Love Come to Life"Jeremy Redmon Big Daddy Weave 3:46
6."Crave" Shaun Shankel
Joel Smallbone
Luke Smallbone		 for King & Country 4:26
7."Fearless" Andy Anderson
Tony Battaglia
Blanca Callahan
Manwell Reyes		 Group 1 Crew 3:22
8."What Love Means" Seth Mosley
Nikita Odnoralov
Ruslan Odnoralov		 Everfound 3:36
9."Home"Paul Alan
Dara Maclean 		Dara Maclean3:53
10."Wash Me Away" Ian Eskelin
Nicole Witt
Tony Wood 		Point of Grace 3:03
11."Not for a Moment (After All)" Meredith Andrews
Stu G
Jason Ingram
James MacDonald
Andi Rozier		Meredith Andrews4:00
12."Mary, Did You Know?" Buddy Greene
Mark Lowry 		Kenny Rogers
Wynonna 		3:51

Score

The Bible (Official Score Soundtrack)
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Faith" (featuring Lisa Gerrard) Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe 		12:49
2."In the Beginning"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		3:47
3."Romas Lament" (featuring Lisa Gerrard)Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		5:30
4."Hope" (featuring Lisa Gerrard)Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:22
5."Journey"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		3:18
6."Zedekiah's Sons"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		1:55
7."Daniel Prays"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:12
8."The Road to Jerusalem"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:05
9."Pentecost"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:15
10."King David"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		1:41
11."I Am" (featuring Lisa Gerrard)Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		3:45
12."Pray for Us"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		1:51
13."Free Us, Save Us"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:28
14."The Nativity" (featuring Lisa Gerrard)Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		4:33
15."Creation Choral"Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:08
16."Rise up in Faith" (featuring Lisa Gerrard)Hans Zimmer
Lorne Balfe		2:45

Theatrical release

Mark Burnett announced in April 2013 that a three-hour version was being prepared for global theatrical release. He claimed that he has had no distribution arrangements yet, though he could possibly release it himself. [10] In June 2013, Burnett elaborated that the film, which has already been edited, would focus exclusively on the life of Jesus, and would run at two hours and fifteen minutes. [50] In September 2013, it was announced that 20th Century Fox would partner with Burnett on theatrical distribution, currently titled Son of God . [51] [52] In October 2013, it was announced that Son of God would be released on February 28, 2014. [53]

Sequel – A.D.

On December 17, 2013, it was announced that there would be a follow-up miniseries in 2015, titled A.D. The Bible Continues, also produced by Burnett, Downey, and Bedser. [11] [54] The limited series began airing on NBC on Easter Sunday, April 5. It airs in twelve weekly one-hour episodes. The story takes place immediately after the events of The Bible, beginning with the Crucifixion and Resurrection, and continues with the first ten chapters of the Book of Acts. [55] [56] On July 3, 2015, NBC canceled A.D. The Bible Continues after one season. However, producers Burnett and Downey plan future biblical productions on their OTT digital channel. [57]

See also

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<i>Messiah</i> (American TV series) 2020 American thriller streaming television series

Messiah is an American thriller television series created by Michael Petroni. It consists of ten episodes, which were released on Netflix on January 1, 2020. The series stars Mehdi Dehbi, Tomer Sisley, Michelle Monaghan, John Ortiz, Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landoulsi, and Wil Traval.

Two soundtracks were released for the epic biblical film Son of God: an original soundtrack and an album that featured music inspired by the film and an original soundtrack. The former featured compositions from the musical score composed by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe and also featuring Lisa Gerrard; the trio worked on the History Channel television miniseries The Bible (2013), created by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who also produced the film under the Lightworkers Media. The album also consisted of remixed songs from CeeLo Green, OneRepublic, Sara Bareilles amongst others. The latter was distributed by Word Entertainment that featured contributions from Christian music artists Francesca Battistelli, Chris August, Dara Maclean, Sidewalk Prophets amongst others. Both the albums were released on February 25, 2014, three days before the film's release.

References

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