Actors who many years ago lent their voices to an audiobook about the life of Jesus Christ were caught off guard when they found out this week that it has been picked up by Fox News Audio, converted into a massive, 52-episode podcast series for release this holiday season.
Reps for Kristen Bell, who portrayed Mary Magdalene in the original audiobook, toldRolling Stonethat she had no knowledge of the Fox News deal for the "Life of Jesus Podcast," which wasannounced Wednesday.
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Similarly, Brian Cox — the "voice of God" in the audiobook epic — wasn't aware of the forthcoming Fox News Audio podcast, according to a rep for the actor. "Brian recorded audio for a project over a decade ago," the spokesman said. "He was unaware that the audio would be repurposed for a new podcast series in 2025."
Also surprised about the Fox News pickup of the project was Malcolm McDowell, who provides the voice of the high priest Caiaphas, according to his manager, Chris Roe.
"This project was recorded and released 15 years ago as an audiobook," Roe toldVariety. "We were unaware that it was being turned into a podcast until this week. We found out about it when everyone else did. We were never consulted, nothing was renegotiated, and we would not have approved."
But Fox News says the company's licensing deal involves a project that the actors had signed off on. A Fox News Media spokesperson said in a statement: "Gulfstream Studios produced the 'Life of Jesus Podcast' from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by FOX News Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved."
In other words, while some of the actors may be surprised that Fox News is distributing a version of the audio project they participated in more than a decade ago, the original deals they signed for the audiobook allow for the show to be licensed in this way, according to Fox News Media.
The "Life of Jesus Podcast" is a serialized version of "The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible: New Testament," first released in 2010 by Ignatius Press, which weighs in at a whopping 21-hour runtime.
Varietyhas reached out to reps for Bell, Neal McDonough (who voices Jesus) and Sean Astin (Matthew) for additional comment, as well as Gulfstream Studios.
Fox News Audio's "The Life of Jesus Podcast," which premieres Sunday, Nov. 30, is the latest addition to Fox Faith, the media company's religion vertical. The podcast will be available in audio format on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Fox News' podcast website and other major platforms.
In the podcast, "Fox & Friends" co-host Ainsley Earhardt will introduce each 30-minute episode, "guiding listeners through the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ." In all, "The Life of Jesus Podcast" features more than 100 actors voicing characters from the Bible, which in addition to those already cited include John Rhys-Davies (narrator), Julia Ormond (Mary Mother of God), Blair Underwood (Mark), Stacy Keach (John), Hill Harper (Angel of the Lord) and Michael York (Luke).
The release schedule for "The Life of Jesus Podcast" is as follows: Nov. 30: first 13 episodes debut to mark the start of Advent; Dec. 21: 13 additional episodes releasing during Christmas week; Feb. 15, 2026: third installment of 13 episodes arrive for Lent; March 29: final 13 episodes premiere on Palm Sunday.
Listen to the trailer for "The Life of Jesus":
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