PRESENTS

SON OF GOD

A FILM BY

ROMA DOWNEY & MARK BURNETT

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SON OF GOD

Starring Diogo Morgado and Roma Downey

IN CINEMAS MAY 22, 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.