Visiting the Cast and Crew on the Set of KILLING JESUS in Morocco
By Evy Baehr, Executive Managing Editor
National Geographic has dramatized each of Fox News host Bill O’ Reilly’s books in his Killing series, including KILLING LINCOLN and KILLING KENNEDY. Partly because these programs have done so well, and the fact that the Christian Film and Television Commission® has been telling Hollywood there is an audience for Jesus, NatGeo has decided to film Bill O’Reily’s KILLING JESUS, which airs March 29 on the NatGeo Channel.
Movieguide® had an inside look on the set of the movie in Ouarzazate, Morocco.
Arriving in the small town of Ouarzazate, we found out this is where they shoot most Jesus films. In fact, about 60 percent of the industry in Ouarzazate is movies and television. Movies like GLADIATOR, THE MUMMY and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA have all been shot in this little desert town. Little did we know that, after a 16-hour flight from Hollywood, we would arrive in the Hollywood of Africa.
On Day One, we are thrown into the midst of the production, sitting on the side of the Temple set, the very place where the actor Haaz Sleiman would walk as Jesus. This day we watched as the Pharisees discussed Jesus. Watching these scenes play out, it felt like we were really watching history.
As I sat watching, John Rhys-Davies (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and THE LORD OF THE RINGS) came to sit next to me, along with Kelsey Grammer and Rufus Sewell. Being a bit of a people person, Rhys-Davies suggested we take a selfie, and in his Pharisee costume, we snapped a shot. Then, Davies and I discussed the divinity of Jesus and what it means. After a few minutes, I assumed this is just a normal day on the set of KILLING JESUS.
Don’t forget to read Movieguide®’s review of the KILLING JESUS movie, which will be on our website by March 29 when the TV Movie airs on the NatGeo Channel.
Movieguide®’s Evy Baehr takes a selfie with John Rhys-Davies (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and THE LORD OF THE RINGS), who plays a Pharisee in KILLING JESUS.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +1