Lenten Special: Portrayals of Jesus in films, TV series

Lent Special: Portrayals of Jesus in films, TV series. Image: INQUIRER.net/Lance Uy

The story of the life and death of Jesus is arguably one of the most popular tales that transcended scriptures to screens, with a number of actors taking on the mantle of portraying the revered Son of God. 

As we observe the Lent Season, let’s have a look at some of the portrayals of Jesus that received attention, raves and even criticisms from the viewing public. 

Jeffrey Hunter

Jeffrey Hunter took on the role of the Son of God in the 1961 film “King of Kings,” reenacting His life from when He was born to His resurrection—as narrated in the New Testament.

Contributing a big part to Hunter’s casting was his “memorable eyes,” as described by producer Samuel Bronston who reportedly chose the American actor for the role over Alex Guinness, Peter Cushing and Max von Sydow.

“Even after two years, I still get an average of 1,500 letters a month from people who saw me in that film and share the beauty and inspiration I derived from it with me,” Hunter said in a piece by Hank Grant.

“There are some things that can’t be measured in dollars and cents and how can anyone put a price—even the price of a million-dollar career—on the role of the greatest Being this mortal world has ever known?” he stated. 

Max von Sydow

Swedish-French actor Max starred as the savior in the 1965 film “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” which is his first-ever project in English language. 

Ironically, Max, who is also known for his portrayal in “The Exorcist,” was said to be a non-believer. 

“l played him as a man. I did not play him as the son of God or a man of God; I played him as a man,” he said of his Jesus character.

The film was among the Top Ten Films winners of the National Board of Review, USA in 1965. It also earned five Academy Award nominations in 1966, including best cinematography and best music (original score). 

Ted Neeley

Ted Neeley brought to life the titular role in the 1973 musical film “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which is an adaptation of the stage play of the same name. It mainly focuses on the story of Jesus and Judas, the disciple who betrayed him. 

The American singer-actor reportedly auditioned for the role of Judas, but was cast as the lead star. His performance in the musical drama earned him a Golden Globe nomination for the best actor in a motion picture award. 

Robert Powell

British actor Robert Powell played the role of the Redeemer in the British-Italian miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth,” which was well-received by believers from the day of its release in 1977. Powell reportedly bested Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman who were both considered as well for the role.

“I see Christ as a combination of man and God. He is a man who went against the political winds of the time,” Powell, as per an interview with Movie Stars magazine, said of the character he portrayed in the series, which earned several recognitions including two Primetime Emmy nominations. 

“He is not an angry Christ, though he is capable of extreme indignation. Nor is he a cozy man. He never does anything by degrees and expects the same from others. His followers must give away not a few things, but everything, before they come with Him,” he stated.

Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe starrer “The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988) had one of the most controversial takes in retelling the story of Jesus, as it portrayed the biblical figure as a mortal struggling with temptation, fears, doubt, and sinful thoughts. 

Many Christian believers stoned the Martin Scorsese-helmed film for being blasphemous, further stressing that it deviated away from the story written in the Bible. 

Nonetheless, it was a contender for several honors at the Academy Awards, Grammys and Golden Globes.

Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Sisto led the cast of the 1999 miniseries “Jesus,” which consisted of Gary Oldman, Debra Messing, Jacqueline Bisset and Armin Mueller-Stahl, among others. 

The program had an average of more than 21 million viewers, and ranked as the highest-rated and most watched miniseries at the time of its release. It was also nominated for two Primetime Emmys in 2000.

Christian Bale

Prior to being Batman, Christian Bale was Jesus in “Mary, Mother of Jesus.” The 1999 television film follows the story of Mary, hence the English actor only appears halfway through the movie.  

Jim Caviezel

American actor Jim Caviezel is Jesus in the 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” helmed by American actor-director Mel Gibson. The movie—which focuses on Jesus’ final hours prior to being crucified—was deemed controversial as some argued that it depicts suffering and violence, and that it is antisemitic. 

Despite this, the film was a box-office hit with over $600m earnings worldwide. 

Diogo Morgado

Diogo Morgado, a Portuguese actor, had two Jesus roles: one in the miniseries “The Bible” (2013) and one in its film adaptation “Son of God” (2014). 

Speaking about the responsibility of taking on the character in a Hollywood Reporter interview in 2014, Morgado said, “There’s a lot of people out there. A lot of kids especially. They don’t know who exactly Jesus was. So, this is actually a tool that can teach these kids about why Jesus was who he was and why the Bible was the most important book.”

Jonathan Roomie

Jonathan Roumie leads the cast of the ongoing TV series “The Chosen,” a crowdfunded project that centers around the life and ministry of Jesus. The show premiered in December 2017, and is set to start production of its fifth season.