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SON OF GOD
Starring Diogo Morgado and Roma Downey
IN CINEMAS MAY 15, 2014
SON OF GOD is the first major motion picture event in ten years that puts Jesus back on the big
screen (since 2004’s Passion of the Christ). And it’s almost fifty years since the entire story of
Jesus’ life (since 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told) has been experienced as a movie.
SON OF GOD gives audiences a 2014 epic experience of Jesus’ life through compelling cinematic
storytelling that is gritty, dramatic, powerful and inspirational. Audiences are moved to cheers,
then tears, and then cheers again as the story unfolds.
Producer/actress and Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel,
The Bible) and Emmy winning producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, The Bible)
brought the epic miniseries The Bible to television audiences around the world through their
company LightWorkers Media. The series became the number one cable entertainment telecast
of the year, one of the fastest-selling TV-to-disc titles ever and went on to garner three Emmy
Award nominations. A huge hit in many countries, it mixed adventure, action and drama from
and drew acclaim for retelling the sacred text in a way that was relevant to today’s audiences.
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SYNOPSIS
SON OF GOD is the first major motion picture event in ten years that puts Jesus back on the big
screen (since 2004’s Passion of the Christ). And it’s almost fifty years since the entire story of
Jesus’ life (since 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told) has been experienced as a movie.
SON OF GOD gives audiences a 2014 epic experience of Jesus’ life through compelling cinematic
storytelling that is gritty, dramatic, powerful and inspirational. Audiences are moved to cheers,
then tears, and then cheers again as the story unfolds.
Producer/actress and Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel,
The Bible) and Emmy winning producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, The Bible)
brought the epic miniseries The Bible to television audiences around the world through their
company LightWorkers Media. The series became the number one cable entertainment telecast
of the year, one of the fastest-selling TV-to-disc titles ever and went on to garner three Emmy
Award nominations. A huge hit in many countries, it mixed adventure, action and drama from
and drew acclaim for retelling the sacred text in a way that was relevant to today’s audiences.
The series was tweeted by a wide range of public figures, including Oprah, LL Cool J, Shakira,
Sarah Fergusson, P Diddy, T.D. Jakes, Tony Robbins and Maya Angelou – the last Tweeting that
the series “gives life to stories that have shaped our world and shaped my life.”
Now, the larger-than-life story of Jesus gets a larger-than-life treatment in this stand-alone
feature with the scope and scale of a fast-paced action epic enveloped within gentle intimacy.
Jesus is presented as the lion and the lamb. SON OF GOD features powerful performances,
exotic locales, dazzling visual effects and a rich orchestral score from Oscar®-winner Hans
Zimmer. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado beautifully portrays the role of Jesus, as the film
spans from His humble birth through His teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection.
“SON OF GOD presents an incredible, dramatic, gripping story,” says Roma Downey. “It’s
impossible not to be moved by the love of Jesus as he walks into the lion’s den of Jerusalem to
take on the power base, and save his people. In this movie meek does not mean weak.”
This movie has been publicly endorsed by the largest group of cross-denominational faith
leaders of any project, bringing religious leaders together in support. Pastor Rick Warren says,
“I’ve seen most of the films about Jesus produced in the past 50 years. SON OF GOD stands
alone, in a class by itself. It is a powerful and poignant movie, the best Jesus movie I have ever
seen. I am thrilled that Twentieth Century Fox is distributing this film and I know it will be a
blessing to millions when it opens all across America on February 28, 2014.”
Rev. Sam Rodriguez, President of the Hispanics Evangelical Alliance says, “SON OF GOD fills the
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big screen with two catalytic elements: the passion of the cross and the purpose of the empty
tomb, forgiveness and eternal life. SON OF GOD is not just a production worth watching it is a
gift worth experiencing.”
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. says, “I would recommend to
individuals, and particularly to families, this wonderful story of the Son of God in order to be
inspired all over again with the story of God’s love for us. It is a joy to watch this film bring alive
the pages of the Gospel to help us see what those who lived at the time of Jesus experienced.”
Bishop T.D. Jakes says, “I believe the audience will be enthralled, encouraged and inspired by
the movie SON OF GOD.”
Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have succeeded in doing what few before them have done:
“SON OF GOD proves that when talent and passion collide, the outcome is spectacular," said
Joel Osteen, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church and #1 bestselling author. “Having spent time
with them on the set, my wife Victoria and I witnessed first-hand the deep and abiding passion
they both possess for God¹s Word.”
Archbishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, notes: “Each one of us is a son or daughter
of God. It is a wonderful, awesome reality. SON OF GOD is a very important movie because it
gives us the opportunity to realize God’s presence in our own lives, and that we are children of
God. The film is extraordinary for my ministry.”
The producers are thrilled that their Jesus narrative will finally be seen on the big screen. “We
are very excited to be working with Twentieth Century Fox to release SON OF GOD as a major
motion picture,” said Roma Downey and Mark Burnett “This story needed to be seen on the big
screen. Audiences nationwide sit in their seats at the end of the film, unable to move. They are
transfixed at what they have just experienced. It’s the story of Jesus for a whole new
generation.”
Twentieth Century Fox and Lightworkers Media present “SON OF GOD,” starring Diogo
Morgado, Greg Hicks, Adrian Schiller, Darwin Shaw, Sebastian Knapp, Joe Wredden, Simon Kunz,
Paul Marc Davis, Matthew Gravelle, Amber Rose Revah, and Roma Downey.
The film is produced by Roma Downey, Mark Burnett and Richard Bedser, and directed by
Christopher Spencer. The director of photography is Rob Goldie, and the lead writer is Nic
Young, with additional writing by Richard Bedser, Christopher Spencer and Colin Swash.
The co-producers are Alexander Marengo and Annie Macnee, the line producer is Eamon
Fitzpatrick, and the associate producers are Charlotte Wheaton and Khadija Alami. The music is
composed by Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe, and the soloist is Lisa Gerrard. Additional scenes
were directed by Tony Mitchell and Crispin Reece; additional scenes directors of photography
are Christopher Titus King and Peter Greenhalgh, BSC. Casting is by Carl Proctor CDG and
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Noureddine Aberdine. The lead editor is Rob Hall, the VFX supervisor is James Jordon, the
production designer is Alan Spalding, and the costume designer is Ros Little. Make up designer
is Christa Schoeman, and the executive in charge of production is Brian Edwards.
BEGINNINGS
The release of SON OF GOD is the culmination of a four and half year journey for Downey and
Burnett. They found much to celebrate and be thankful for with the incredible success of their
2013 mini-series The Bible, but the most fulfilling aspect of their odyssey lay ahead.
For the producing duo, bringing the story of Jesus to the big screen was both a responsibility and
a joy that transcended the creative work that accompanies the production and release of a
major motion picture. “Working on The Bible and now SON OF GOD was a passion for Mark and
me,” says Downey. “We love this project.”
Crafting a theatrical and communal experience was one of the principal rewards. “The story of
Jesus is so powerful, and to see it on the big screen is deeply moving,” says Burnett. “It deserves
to have that big screen movie theater experience.”
One of the most magical elements of motion pictures is the medium’s ability to balance the epic
and the intimate, and Downey and Burnett embraced the challenge of bringing both elements to
SON OF GOD. “It was very important that we tell an intimate story and that we emotionally
connect to the characters,” says Downey. “SON OF GOD is a character-driven, relationship
story, and at the same time it has the scale of an epic historical drama. We’re very proud that it
manages to do both.”
Burnett notes that although the film is set two thousand years ago, it will resonate with today’s
audiences. “SON OF GOD feels contemporary because the characters are presented in such a
relatable way. It has characters that you feel like you know. Everyone, except Jesus, is human
and deeply flawed, and that’s relevant to all of us.”
One of the story’s most significant themes is unconditional love, which, along with forgiveness,
was Jesus’ principal teaching. “That message is central to our faith, which is to go out and
spread the love and gospel to everyone,” explains Downey.
Producer Richard Bedser concurs: “SON OF GOD is not just about faith; it’s about the choices
people make and the repercussions of those choices. So, it’s for everybody. It’s epic, action-
packed and intimate, and we’re telling the story in a way that will inspire people.”
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A POLITICAL THRILLER
One of the film’s most unexpected, intriguing and relatable aspects is its portrayal of the era’s
politics, which shaped the last days of Jesus’ life. Mark Burnett explains: “At its essence, SON
OF GOD is a thriller. It’s set during a time when the Jewish nation is dominated by an occupying
force – the Romans – that treat the Jews brutally. It was an extremely tense situation.
“In the middle of this, an outsider, Jesus, arrives with a huge following into Jerusalem, which is
the seat of power of the Holy Land. And Jesus is performing miracles that people can’t explain.
And His following has grown from a few people to thousands. Jesus is on a collision course with
many of the most powerful leaders – Jewish and Roman – of the city, which is teeming with
people celebrating the Passover holiday.”
Upon His arrival in the Holy City, Jesus finds himself walking into a lion’s den. “Jesus is arrested,
tried and crucified,” Burnett continues. “And the city’s powerful leaders think that that will solve
the problematic nature of His ideas, beliefs and growing number of followers. But they didn’t
realize He is the Son of God. And three days later, He’s back.”
Downey affirms that it was critical to tell this story in the context of the era. “This was a terrible
time for the Jewish people because the Romans had occupied their country, taxed them
excessively, and oppressed them. There was great anxiety and tension among the Jews and it
was into this cauldron that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, during Passover. It was up to Caiaphas,
the high priest, to keep control of his people. And Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who
didn’t want to be there in the first place, was tasked with dealing with the repercussions of
Jesus’ arrival.
“The Jews were looking for a way out of the oppression of the Roman occupation. They were
looking for a messiah. And Jesus came with a message of hope. He brought a revolution of love,
but to the authorities, Roman and Temple, His was a dangerous message. And they had to quiet
Him.”
FINDING ‘JESUS’
There’s a Hollywood adage that 90 percent of filmmaking is casting. So, it’s not surprising that
the SON OF GOD filmmakers knew they had their work cut out for them as they embarked upon
a search to find “Jesus.”
“We knew from the beginning that the portrayal of Jesus Christ needed to have the strength of a
lion and the gentleness of a lamb,” says Burnett. “It’s a very unusual duality.”
That particular combination of qualities is indeed so rare that the filmmakers found themselves
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still looking to cast the role, even as the start of principal photography drew closer. “To say we
were anxious would be an understatement,” says Burnett. “We’d been looking to cast the role
for months. We even sent out an email to everyone we knew, and the heading was: ‘Looking for
Jesus.’”
A videotape sent to Downey and Burnett from their casting agent in London was, at last, an
answer to their prayers. Downey recalls the fateful day when they watched the taped audition:
“This Portuguese actor named Diogo Morgado had made his own audition reel. He didn’t have
long hair or a beard; he was just reading a script and he had a pronounced accent. But there was
just something in the tape, and we decided to meet with Diogo.”
The producers contacted Morgado’s London agent, and were pleased to learn that the actor
happened to be in Los Angeles, where Burnett and Downey reside. When Morgado arrived at
their home office, Downey and Burnett watched through their window as he walked through
the gate, and Downey was moved to comment to Burnett: “There he is. There’s our Jesus.”
“Diogo was just sent to us,” Downey continues. “He couldn’t have been more perfect. And the
beauty of his spirit shone through during our first meeting.” Morgado also has vivid memories of
that initial and fateful meeting. “When I met Roma, I saw this beautiful woman smiling at me
and welcoming me. I felt a strong connection and so at-home and comfortable with Roma and
Mark. It didn’t feel like a meeting. I was impressed by their energy and passion, and I knew I
wanted to be a part of this journey.
“And when I got the role, I realized I had the responsibility of bringing to life the most wonderful
and magical story of all times.” Burnett notes that even though Morgado grew up Christian and
knew the gospels the actor still faced a daunting task. “Diogo told me, ‘There’s no way to
prepare properly to portray Jesus Christ. I’ve decided to just let the Spirit come through me,
authentically.’”
Morgado notes that for his initial prep work, he traveled to Israel, to “experience the energy of
the Holy Land, walking on the streets where the movie’s events unfold.” That journey further
reminded him of the film’s potential. “SON OF GOD is a gift to everyone,” he adds. “This film is
just pure love.”
“Diogo lights up the screen,” says Burnett. “And he has that nature of being meek but not weak.
In this case, meek means strong. It’s tougher to be gentle.” Downey echoes Burnett’s feelings
about the blessing in finding Morgado. “As lovely as Diogo is on the outside, he is on the inside.
He brings a natural humility to the role, which was critical. He is ‘movie-star gorgeous,’ but it’s
his inner beauty that’s so galvanizing. When you see him on the big screen and hear him say,
‘Come, follow me’…honestly, it makes you want to stand up in the theater aisle and say, ‘Yeah,
I’ll follow you!’”
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Director Christopher Spencer is equally enthusiastic about Morgado’s work in the title role.
“The most exciting aspect of the film was working with Diogo,” he says. “Together, we came up
with new ways to visualize some of the scenes. He was just bursting with ideas.”
MOTHER MARY
As a producer on this large-scale production, Roma Downey faced, along with Mark Burnett and
Richard Bedser, formidable tasks every day on location in Morocco. Although she’s a noted
actress, Downey did not intend to perform in the film; she had plenty on her plate wearing her
producer’s hat. But eventually Downey was convinced to step into the role of Jesus’ mother,
Mary.
“We had already cast a young actress to portray Mary for the nativity scene,” Downey recalls.
“And we needed to find someone who looked like she could be the young Mary thirty years
later, for the scenes where she encounters her son as an adult. And of the actors we were
considering for the role, no one really fit, so Mark [Burnett] said to me, ‘Would you consider
stepping into the part yourself?’ I prayed on that, I decided to take the role, and I’m so glad I
did. It’s a small but complex part because on the one hand, Mary knows her son is
extraordinary, and on the other hand, this is her boy and she wants to protect him. So the
scenes leading up to the Crucifixion, at the foot of the cross, in particular, were very emotional –
to watch your own child be murdered was very intense to play. She was the mother of the Son
of God, but she was also the mother of a son and that’s what made it painful at the foot of the
cross.”
Burnett notes that “Roma really brought to life the mother’s love for her son, who was going to
be arrested and crucified. You can feel their incredible connection.”
“It’s interesting, because I had sort of stepped into this nurturing role with Diogo before I
decided to play his mother,” adds Downey. “So, there was a natural connection that
transitioned to the relationship on-screen. A lot of scenes between Jesus and Mary are played
through meaningful looks between them; it’s almost an unspoken relationship.”
PILATE
Downey and Morgado were among the few actors in SON OF GOD who didn’t hail from the
United Kingdom. “We cast the film out of London,” says Burnett, “so we had access to
incredible stage actors. It really added so much to the film, providing authenticity, as well as
serving to avoid the inherent distractions of having a recognizable face portray such iconic
roles.”
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Chief among the film’s cast of U.K. thespians is Greg Hicks, a distinguished Shakespearean actor
who portrays Pontius Pilate, the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea. Pilate was the
judge at the trial of Jesus and the man who authorized His sentence.
Hicks’ nuanced performance complements the film’s depiction of the times’ combustible mix of
politics and faith. “Greg Hicks is one of the greatest Shakespearean actors in Britain,” notes
Burnett. The dynamic between Hicks and Morgado in a key sequence particularly resonated
with the producer. “When Pilate confronts Jesus after His arrest and trial in the Temple, Pilate is
unnerved when Jesus explains to Pilate that He ‘has come for truth, and anybody who listens to
Me will experience that truth.’ Pilate asks him, ‘What is truth?’ and Jesus just points up to the
light. And Pilate tries to wrangle out of bearing the responsibility for ordering the Crucifixion.
But of course it’s prophesized by God, and it’s going to happen.”
The scene, adds Burnett, points to the realities of contemporary politics. “Think of how many
political leaders make decisions, which they know to be untrue or wrong, for short-term political
expediency.”
MIRACLES & MOMENTS
Recreating the miracles of Jesus was a formidable and rewarding challenge for the filmmakers.
Shooting the scene of Jesus walking on water to meet a boat filled with His Disciples was
particularly daunting, given the freezing weather and complex logistics and special effects.
The filmmakers constructed a platform underneath the water’s surface to enable Morgado to
walk towards the boat, which was rigged up on the shoreline with a number of crew members
rocking it. Wind machines, rain machines, a lightning machine, and an enormous green screen
also played important roles in the scene. It was a long night for the actors and crew, but says
Downey, well worth it.
“It’s a remarkable sequence of the miraculous,” she explains. “For the Disciples, especially
Peter, it was one of the first times they realized that there was something quite extraordinary
about this man.”
The film’s epic miracles are balanced by smaller, quieter moments of healing and connections.
“Those are the most touching miracles to me,” says Downey. “A scene that still makes me cry is
when Jesus calls over the tax collector Matthew.” Hated by his fellow Jews, who thought
Matthew had betrayed his own people, Jesus is warned to ignore him. “But Jesus speaks with
Matthew,” Downey continues, “and touches him so deeply that Matthew has a miracle in his
own heart and asks Jesus to forgive him.
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“I know that in that moment, many of us can recognize ourselves because we’re all sinners. And
it’s through the love of Jesus that we can all be forgiven. It’s my favorite scene in the movie
because it’s so impactful.”
Burnett cites a sequence depicting Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as one of his favorites.
“It’s an ‘intimate’ miracle that really affected me,” he explains. “It’s the ultimate miracle, where
the Disciples realize that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Director Christopher Spencer states that one of the film’s most emotionally-charged scenes
depicts the Last Supper, when Jesus tells His Disciples that one of them will betray him. “What a
moment that is for the Disciples, who have invested so much and given their lives over to Jesus,
to hear Him say that it was coming to an end,” says Spencer. “It’s a mix of incredulity and a very
deep sadness, all happening in a very small room.”
THE CRUCIFIXION
As emotional as the Last Supper and many other scenes were to capture, the sequences leading
up to and depicting the Crucifixion were surely the most wrenching for the SON OF GOD cast
and crew. “It was our biggest test,” Spencer confirms. “Filming it was very demanding on many
levels, both technically and emotionally.”
“You cannot minimize what happened; otherwise it’s a betrayal of the faith,” Burnett points out.
“You need the darkness of the trial and crucifixion to make the light of the Resurrection and the
Ascension so bright. It’s an emotional journey and also like a freight train you cannot stop.
“The scene is as brutal as it needs to be, but it’s not gratuitous violence,” he adds. “That’s why
we were given a PG-13 rating – this film is for families.” Filming the Crucifixion sequence took
place for three days atop a lonely hillside on the outskirts of Ourzazzate, Morocco. Conditions
were never welcoming: high winds and freezing temperatures alternated with torrid sunshine
and sweltering heat.
There was really no way to fully prepare for the physical and emotional rigors of the scene, but
Morgado did undergo vigorous gym workouts for two weeks, readying his muscles for the
difficult positions he would be tasked with holding – including being on the cross for an entire
day. (A harness intended to sustain the actor’s weight proved to be painful, so much of the time
Morgado stood only on a small piece of wood.)
Even with all the severe conditions he faced, Morgado says it was critical for him to focus on the
scene’s more spiritual aspects. “In my mind and spirit, everything was on a much higher plane
than the physical aspects of shooting the Crucifixion scene,” he says. “Though I was surrounded
by the wonderful crew, I felt very alone. I could see for miles from my position.”
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Visitors to the set for this scene included 48 snakes, which had to be cleared away by the crew’s
“snake wrangler.” On other locations two or three snakes were removed, but before filming the
Crucifixion 48 snakes were removed from the rocks at the foot of the cross. “The symbolism
wasn’t lost on us,” says Downey, referring to the creatures as a representation of evil. Burnett
adds that, “the supernatural appearance of so many snakes sent chills though everyone on that
set.”
In this scene, as in many others, the filmmakers looked to balance the personal with the
transcendent. Says Emmy nominated director of photography Rob Goldie: “Filming the
emotional scenes of Jesus and Mary together, leading up to the Crucifixion, is a big moment.
But of course the scene also has sweeping drama and spectacle.
“We went for a style that’s epic, intimate and naturalistic,” Goldie continues. “We wanted a
‘you-are-there’ feel, with our cranes, dollies and Steadicam providing as much movement as
possible. I think audiences will really feel like they are on the hillside, witnessing these events.”
Orchestrating it all was Christopher Spencer, whom Downey describes as “fearless. He makes
you feel like the story is being told especially for you.”
THE PRODUCTION
The Moroccan locations, along with their severe weather patterns, provided “amazing, lush and
epic landscapes,” says Downey. “Morocco has huge mountain ranges, vast deserts and beautiful
terrain. The desert grittiness was so important to the look and feel of SON OF GOD.”
The production included some of the best design and construction crews out of the United
Kingdom, as well as expert local teams. Visual effects specialists from the award-winning VFX
house LOLA created huge crowd reenactments, as well as the miracle of Jesus walking on water.
“Their work brought a majestic aspect to the project,” Downey enthuses.
The costume department, headed by costume designer Ros Little, brought in fabrics from
around the world. For Jesus’ garments, Little locked in on a simple design, fashioning a tunic in
very heavy silks and a robe-like cloak called an abaya, made from a hand-woven blanket.
MUSIC
SON OF GOD features a timeless and stirring score by acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer, whose
many credits include The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Gladiator, The Lion King
(for which he won an Oscar®) and the recent 12 Years a Slave, along with Lorne Balfe (Captain
Phillips), with Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator) as soloist.
Zimmer’s involvement with SON OF GOD came about when he was approached by Burnett, to
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whom, says Zimmer, it is not easy to say no. “In the beginning, there was Mark Burnett,” jokes
the famed musician. “And Mark Burnett will not be denied. He had me at ‘hello’ with his
dedication and passion.
“I am always looking for projects to fill my heart and do things I’ve never tried before,” Zimmer
continues. “And when Mark suggested the impossible, then how could I say no?” SON OF GOD
also highlights a reteaming of Zimmer with soloist Lisa Gerrard, with whom he collaborated on
Gladiator. “We wanted a female vocalist – a feminine spirit,” says Downey, “and we are big fans
of the Gladiator score. “So when we met Hans, I asked him if we could get a singer like he had
on Gladiator. And he replied: ‘Why get someone like Lisa when we can get Lisa!’”
It was Zimmer and Gerrard’s first collaboration since their work together on that Oscar-winning
blockbuster ten years ago, but says Zimmer, “We picked up right where we left off when we did
that film.” For Gerrard, SON OF GOD represents an opportunity to “bring people a greater
understanding about Jesus’ life.”
“Mark and Roma’s approach has a modern and realistic feel,” she continues. “I think the movie
is quite overwhelming and deeply touching.” Mark Burnett says that early showings of the film
confirm their conviction that this is a story that needs to be experienced on the big screen. “We
believe SON OF GOD is an important film that will be seen globally for years to come. Watching
it in theaters, with audiences, is beyond gratifying.”
SON OF GOD is truly a story of unconditional love. “And everybody needs love in their lives,”
says Downey. “We think you will leave the theater with your mind filled and heart opened.”
Making the film was an equally unexpected journey for the actor who takes center stage.
“There are no words to describe how grateful I was for everything that was happening to me on
this film,” concludes Diogo Morgado. “This project has changed me as a person.”
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
ROMA DOWNEY (Producer; Mary, Mother of Jesus) is an Emmy nominated producer for the
series The Bible, which became the number one cable entertainment telecast of the year, one of
the fastest-selling TV-to-disc titles ever and went on to garner three Emmy® Award nominations.
She is a celebrated, Emmy-nominated actress who is best known for her nine seasons as the
tender-hearted angel on the hit CBS show Touched by an Angel. Downey starred in over 200
episodes, and her work inspired millions of people around the world and earned her multiple
best actress nominations for Emmy and Golden Globe awards.
Born in Ireland and classically trained in London, Downey has performed on stage with the
famed Abbey Theatre Company and has appeared both on and off Broadway. She played the
leading role of Jackie Kennedy Onassis in the Emmy award winning, six hour mini-series for NBC
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called A Woman Named Jackie. Downey not only starred in, but executive produced seven
television movies for the CBS network, among them Borrowed Hearts with Eric McCormack and
Second Honeymoon with Tim Matheson. Currently Downey is prepping two series – one for CBS
(The Dovekeepers) and one for NBC (A.D.) She is the executive producer of the children’s DVD
and book series Little Angels and its companion Little Angels Storybook Bible.
Downey and Mark Burnett co-authored a companion book to The Bible series A Story of God and
All of Us, published last spring by Faith Words. For many years Downey has been a
spokesperson for Operation Smile, a global volunteer organization that brings free surgeries to
children with facial deformities. She has traveled to Third World and developing countries
making fundraising films on its behalf.
MARK BURNETT (Producer) is a five time Emmy Award winner who has produced over 2,400
hours of television programming that regularly airs in over 70 countries worldwide. His current
network series include Survivor (CBS), The Voice (NBC), The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), Shark
Tank (ABC), and The Sing Off. In last 12 months Burnett series have won their time slots on five
nights of television in the same week.
Burnett was a producer on the series The Bible, which became the number one cable
entertainment telecast of the year, one of the fastest-selling TV-to-disc titles ever and went on
to garner three Emmy Award nominations. Burnett is one of very few producers to have had a
renewed series on each of the four major networks. He also has a strong presence in award
show franchises, having produced the MTV Movie Awards from 2007 to 2011, the annual
People’s Choice Awards since 2010, the Video Game Awards (Spike) and the 2011 Primetime
Emmy Awards.
Burnett has been named one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine and was
listed as TV Guide’s most valuable player. He has won Brandweek’s Marketer of the Year Award,
The Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, the PGA Norman Lear Award and the prestigious Rose D’Or
Frapa Format Award. Burnett was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame and
was honored in 2010 with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He served two elected terms on
the Board of Directors for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Los Angeles.
RICHARD BEDSER (Producer) is a UK based writer, producer and director. Bedser was a writer
and executive producer on the Emmy nominated mini-series The Bible and on the Emmy award
winning series, Gettysburg.
CHRISTOPHER SPENCER (Director) is based in the UK and has produced, directed and written a
wide range of dramas and documentaries for broadcasters around the world, including the BBC,
Channel 4, HBO, Time-Warner, History, Discovery, PBS, National Geographic, TLC, NDR and
Channel One Russia.
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He has over thirty hour-long documentaries to his credit, including the final episode of The
Human Body, described as “the most controversial documentary in television history.”
Spencer has directed a number of drama–documentaries, including the critically acclaimed
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World. He has a number of awards and nominations including
Originality and Best Factual BAFTAs, Royal Television Society, John Grierson nomination,
International Monitor award, San Francisco Golden Gate Silver Spire Winner, Cine Golden Eagle,
and Glaxo Welcome Best Science Documentary.
HANS ZIMMER (Composer) is one of the film industry’s most influential composers, whose
career spans three decades and encompasses well over 100 films. Zimmer earned his ninth and
most recent Academy Award® nomination, for his score for Christopher Nolan’s 2010
blockbuster Inception, which also brought him Golden Globe® and BAFTA Award nominations.
He also collaborated with Nolan on Batman Begins; the record-breaking hit The Dark Knight, for
which he earned a BAFTA Award nomination; and The Dark Knight Rises.
His recent credits also include the animated hit Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Guy
Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and Rob Marshall’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On
Stranger Tides. Zimmer recently scored the acclaimed historical drama 12 Years a Slave,
directed by Steve McQueen and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt.
In 1994, Zimmer won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for his score for the animated
smash hit The Lion King, which spawned a hugely successful soundtrack album. Zimmer has also
garnered six Oscar nominations for his previous scores, including those heard in the films
Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, and Rain Man. In addition, he won a Golden Globe Award and
earned Grammy and BAFTA Award nominations for Gladiator, and has also received seven more
Golden Globe nominations, for his composing work on such films as Frost/Nixon and The Prince
of Egypt.
In 2003, ASCAP presented the composer with the prestigious Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime
Achievement, recognizing his extraordinary body of work. In 2010, he was named the Composer
of the Year at the Hollywood Film Festival and also received his star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame.
ABOUT THE CAST
DIOGO MORGADO (Jesus), already a household name in his native Portugal and one of GQ’s
Men of the Year, is best known in the United States for his recent portrayal of Jesus in the Emmy
nominated mini-series The Bible on The History Channel. Nearly 27 million viewers tuned in to
catch the record-breaking epic series, and witness Morgado’s charismatic interpretation of
15
Jesus. Most recently, Diogo appeared as Dr. Jorge Velez in the third season premiere of the hit
ABC drama, Revenge.
Morgado’s career spans over 16 years in top television, film and stage productions, including a
lead role in the #1 rated Portuguese television series and International Emmy winner Laços de
Sangre. Morgado began his career at the age of fifteen where he joined the cast of top rated
television series Terra Mãe (1998), Diário de Maria (1998), A Lenda da Garça (2000) and A Febre
do Ouro Negro (2000). His performance as Miguel in the 2000 telefilm Amo-Te, Teresa earned
Diogo high regard as one of the most promising actors of his generation and the TV movie is still
one of the highest rated ever in Portugal.
Diogo has worked consistently in Portuguese television with over 15 series regular roles many
with the distinguished SIC network. Diogo's film credits include a noteworthy performance in
the title role of Portuguese dictator Antonio De Oliveira Salazar in the hit feature film A Vida
Privada De Salazar. Morgado was also able to showcase his comedic chops in O Crime do Padre
Amaro, which received international attention from directors all over the world.
Diogo is also a passionate theater actor and had lead roles in prestigious plays such as David
Hare’s Skylight and Peter Shaffer's The Royal Hunt to the Sun. Beyond Portugal, Diogo has had
lead roles in a few international films, like Spain’s Dos Rivales Casi Iguales and Star Crossed and
Brazil’s Revelação and The Jungle. Diogo has also wrapped leading roles in two independent
films in the U.S. – the gritty urban drama Red Butterfly and the action-filled adrenaline film Born
to Race: Fast Track. Currently, Diogo can be seen on Portuguese television as Eduardo in the
series Sol de Inverno. Morgado splits his time between his native Portugal and Los Angeles.
ROMA DOWNEY (Mary, Mother of Jesus) [see bio in “About the Filmmakers”]
GREG HICKS (Pontius Pilate) is one of the UK’s best known Shakespearean actors. He has been a
member of The Royal Shakespeare Company since 1976. Hicks was nominated for the Laurence
Olivier Theatre Award in the category Best Actor of 2003 for his performance in Coriolanus at
the Old Vic and was awarded the 2003 Critic’s Circle Theatre Award for Best Shakespearian
Performance in the same role.
ADRIAN SCHILLER (Caiaphas) is an accomplished British theatre actor, performing Julius Caesar,
As You like it, Romeo and Juliet, Measure for Measure and many more plays with The Royal
Shakespeare Company, and The Veil, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other at The National.
He has also starred in Dr. Who.