FOX has announced that their Bible-based live musical, The Passion, will air next month and has cast Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Seal as Pontius Pilate.
Seal joins host and narrator Tyler Perry along with cast members Jencarlos Canela (Jesus Christ), Chris Daughtry (Judas), Prince Royce (the disciple Peter) and Trisha Yearwood (Mary, the mother of Jesus).
Written by Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical), The Passion tells the story of the last hours of Jesus’ life on Earth. It uses passages from the Bible and a variety of popular music — sung by the cast and arranged specifically for the live special by executive producer and hit music producer Adam Anders
(Glee).
Set in modern-day, The Passion follows Jesus as he presides over the Last Supper and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate and convicted, crucified and ultimately resurrected.
The special will be staged live at signature New Orleans locations, with a procession of hundreds of people carrying a 20-foot illuminated cross from outside the Superdome to the live stage at Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.
The Passion will air live from New Orleans on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016.