Tyler Perry Will Bring Jesus to Your TV Screen
After NBC slayed with the massive success of The Wiz Live!, Fox Entertainment is following suit by revving up its live musical slate for 2016. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network has already ordered a two-hour live broadcast of the religious musical The Passion, which is set to be hosted and narrated by Tyler Perry.
The one-time-only telecast will air live from New Orleans on Palm Sunday (March 20, 2016), and will star an A-list cast that isn't yet confirmed. They will reportedly perform a variety of popular music arranged by Adam Anders, who will be executive-producing the project.
For a little background, The Passion is about the inspirational story of Jesus of Nazareth as he conducts the Last Supper before being betrayed by Judas and put on trial by Pontius Pilate. It goes on to also document his conviction, crucifixion and resurrection. All of this will be brought to life at some of New Oreleans's most iconic locations.
"The Passion is both wonderfully entertaining and genuinely inspirational," said David Madden, Fox Entertainment president. "We are so thrilled to have the multi-talented Tyler Perry join us for this epic music production. He is the perfect host to lead the cast — and viewers — through the streets of New Orleans in this contemporary re-telling of a timeless story."
The Passion will follow Fox's upcoming first live musical event: Grease Live, which will premiere on January 31, 2016. Following The Passion, the network already has another live musical event lined up: a remake of the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, fronted by Orange Is the New Black's Laverne Cox.
Watch The Wiz Live! cast rehearse the show's most popular number, "Ease on Down the Road," below:
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(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
