According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox will air a two-hour live broadcast of religious musical The Passion to be hosted and narrated by Tyler Perry live from New Orleans on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016, and feature "a cast of yet-to-be-announced stars performing a variety of popular music."
Set in modern times, The Passion follows the dramatic and inspirational story of Jesus of Nazareth as He presides over the Last Supper, and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate, convicted, crucified and resurrected. The story will unfold live at some of New Orleans' most iconic locations, culminating in a procession of hundreds carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from Champion Square outside the Superdome to the live stage at Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The Dutch version has been produced annually since 2011 and has built on its audience every year since.
“The Passion is one of the most exciting and compelling projects that I have ever been involved with,” executive producer Adam Anders said. “I cannot wait to bring the greatest-story-ever-told to life through music, in a way that has never been heard before. To be able to create new arrangements of some of the biggest songs of all time to create a live ‘film score’ is a creative dream for me.”
The Passion also fits in the trend of increased religious fare on TV following the staggering success of The Bible miniseries on History in 2013. However, similar projects the followed (CBS' The Dovekeepers and NBC's A.D. The Bible Continues) pulled in more modest ratings earlier this year.
