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Netflix Cancels Controversial MESSIAH Show

Photo courtesy of Wil Traval on Instagram

Netflix Cancels Controversial MESSIAH Show

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor 

MESSIAH star Wil Traval revealed on his Instagram account that the controversial Netflix show MESSIAH has been cancelled by the streaming giant.

“It’s a very sad day today. I have just received news from Netflix that there will be no season 2 of #messiah,” said Traval

Movieguide® previously warned that MESSIAH wasn’t about the biblical savior, as the title suggests. 

MESSIAH’s premise is “what if the savior promised to the Jews never came?” Then, in the 21st century, a man who could be the messiah or could be a con artist shows up, performing miracles and drawing international attention.

“It’s an achievement in the show that it doesn’t actually preach,” creator Michael Petroni said. “It actually just presents things and then puts the question in the viewers lap, which I think is the best way to start a discussion about things like belief systems and faith. It’s not an individual kind of experience. I think it’s an experience that you watch, and then you discuss.”

The show seems to promote a one-world religion that accepts all faiths as good and honorable.

Even though MESSIAH has someone meant to represent Jesus, that’s not clearly expressed. Instead, he’s called Al-Masih.

MESSIAH creator, Michael Petroni, shared his thoughts about the cancellation on Instagram:

Obviously it was devastating news for me personally to hear that the show was cancelled. Clearly the Coronavirus had a big effect on their decision, but it is still difficult to reconcile this with the fact that the show rated 33 million views in its first 28 days.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Dearest devoted fans of Messiah, I just want to communicate my thanks to you all for watching the show, and for all the comments you posted about the show and getting the message out there for people to watch. It was such a thrill to read your comments and so satisfying to see your appreciation of the story’s nuances. Obviously it was devastating news for me personally to hear that the show was cancelled. Clearly the Coronavirus had a big effect on their decision, but it is still difficult to reconcile this with the fact that the show rated 33 million views in its first 28 days. To put that into perspective, that is 12 million views more than The Crown rated for the first 4 weeks of its 3rd season as reported in a BBC news article: “The third season, which stars Olivia Colman as the Queen, was watched in 21 million homes in its first four weeks.” And that number (33 million) would obviously be more by now. I think you, the fans, all deserve to know just how popular the show really was and I thank you for your support from the bottom of my heart – you all made the show a hit. Making the show was a very risky, some might say audacious, undertaking that required a lot of faith in the concept to succeed. So I’d like to thank all my collaborators, starting with my truly amazing cast that brought an incredible veracity to their roles – Michelle, Mehdi, Tomer, John, Stefania, Melinda, Sayyid, Wil, Fares, Phillip, Jane, Beau, Dermot, Barbara, Michael, Assad, Rona-Lee, Ori, Makram, Siddiq, Dvir, Poorna, Emily, Nicole and the other 248 speaking parts!! To my incredible writers, my directors and DOP, our production designers, costume, hair and makeup, my editors, composers, sound recordist and designers, to our incredible casting directors and our vis FX people and ALL the crew who worked so hard on the series – THANK YOU. What makes this doubly sad is that we just finished writing the final episode of the second season scripts last week! I was so pleased and excited by where our second season took our story! There was so much more of the story still to tell! May Messiah live on in your hearts. #SaveMessiah Sincerely, Michael Petroni 💝

A post shared by Messiah (@netflixmessiah) on

MESSIAH is a reminder of Jesus’ warning about false prophets.

“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4-5)

In today’s media landscape, we must be vigilant to discern what actually portrays the mind of Christ and what is deception.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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