Foxtel Arts picks up The Passion for Aus, Seal joins cast

Foxtel Arts has picked up the rights to screen the two-hour musical event The Passion in Australia this weekend.

The story about the last hours of Jesus Christ, set in modern times, was filmed live in New Orleans this week, with Grammy winning singer songwriter Seal a last-minute addition to the cast.

Country music singer Trish Yearwood plays Jesus Christ’s mother Mary, Cuban-American singer/songwriter and actor Jencarlos Canela was cast in the role of Christ, and multi-platinum recording artists Chris Daughtry and Prince Royce respectively play Judas and the disciple Peter.

Foxtel Arts will screen it on Friday March 25 (Good Friday) at 3:00pm and encored later that evening at 8:30pm. It will be repeated on Easter Sunday, March 27 at 6am, 2pm and 6pm.

Actor, writer and producer Tyler Perry hosts and narrates The Passion. Written by Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical), it tells the 2000-year-old story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through passages from The Bible and a variety of contemporary popular music, sung by the cast, and arranged for the event by executive producer and hit music producer Adam Anders (Glee, Rock of Ages).

Before an audience of 25,000, The Passion follows Jesus presiding over the Last Supper, his betrayal by Judas, trial by Pontius Pilate, conviction, crucifixion and resurrection. It uses nine of New Orleans’ most famous locations, including a 1,000-strong procession carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from outside the Mercedes Benz Superdome to the live stage at Woldenberg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Netflix has the streaming rights for 13 months in Australia, as part of a deal covering countries outside the US.

The Passion format was created in the Netherlands by Jacco Doornbos and Eye2Eye Media and produced every year since 2011. It has been the highest rating live musical event on Dutch TV, last year commanding a 46% share.