By India McCarty
Angel Studios gave us a sneak peek at the upcoming ZERO A.D. — including an almost-unrecognizable Jim Caviezel.
“JIM CAVIEZEL is King Herod, the man who feared a baby more than an army,” an Instagram post caption read. “ZERO A.D., coming to theaters 12.19.2025 A.D.”
The actor wore lots of make-up to transform himself into the biblical figure, and fans commented their surprise that the person in the photo was Caviezel.
“That’s Jim? Wow,” one person wrote. Others pointed out the irony of Caviezel, famous for playing Jesus in THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, taking on the role of Herod.
“Jesus will be Herod That’s what I call a multiverse,” someone wrote, while another added, “I was surprised JC was acting as King Harod [sic]…would never have expected this.”
Angel Studios announced ZERO A.D. earlier this year, with an official synopsis of the project reading, “Before kings and empires feared him, a tyrant sought to erase him. A newborn child ignites a prophetic war. A ruthless prince seeks to crush the prophecy that threatens his father’s rule. And an unlikely mother is forced into the center of a battle between power and destiny. This is the untold origin of a revolution — where faith is tested, courage is forged, and the forces of darkness fight to extinguish the light.”
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In addition to Caviezel, Ben Mendelsohn, Sam Worthington, Gael García Bernal, Deva Cassel and Jamie Ward round out the cast.
ZERO A.D. is part of Angel Studios’ ambitious 2025 lineup, joining titles like family comedy SKETCH, WWII drama TRUTH & TREASON and sports story THE SENIOR.
“In just our first two years, Angel Studios broke into the top 10 theatrical distributors in the U.S. — not by playing it safe, but by delivering powerful, values-driven stories that audiences are hungry for,” Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel Studios, said in a statement. “Now we’re taking that momentum global, partnering with theaters and filmmakers worldwide to bring light-filled movies to screens everywhere.”
Angel Studios describes itself as a “values-based distribution company” that hopes to share stories with audiences that “amplify light,” per Variety. All projects go through the Angel Guild, a group of 360,000 members who have the power to greenlight movies and shows.
“In Hollywood, a handful of elites in an L.A. boardroom decide what the world watches. At Angel Studios, we believe viewers know best,” Jeffrey Harmon, co-founder and chief content officer at Angel Studios, told Variety. “That’s why we can’t even consider a film unless the Angel Guild first greenlights it…we hope to grow the Guild to over one million members. We believe that reaching that milestone will make Angel Studios a true movement, a driving force in the entertainment landscape.”
ZERO A.D. will premiere Dec. 19 and audiences can’t wait to see this Bible story brought to life on the big screen.
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