Nat Geo channel, Ridley Scott, Bill O'Reilly team for 'Killing Jesus'

By Tim Kenneally

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Just in time for Easter - when Christians worldwide will celebrate the resurrection of their savior Jesus Christ - the National Geographic Channel has announced that it is producing a film devoted to his death.

National Geographic Channel said Monday that it's teaming with Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions to adapt the upcoming novel "Killing Jesus: A History."

The book, by Fox News Channel personality Bill O'Reilly and writing partner Martin Dugard, will be published September 24. The film version will air globally on National Geographic Channels next year.

Billed as a "factual drama," the film and book will tell the story of Jesus "as a beloved and controversial young revolutionary brutally killed by Roman soldiers and recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable and the changes that his life brought upon the world for the centuries to follow."

National Geographic Channel and Scott Free have previously collaborated on adaptations of O'Reilly and Dugard's books "Killing Lincoln" and "Killing Kennedy." "Killing Lincoln" premiered in February, averaging a record 3.4 million total viewers for National Geographic Channel. "Killing Kennedy" is currently in pre-production for an expected premiere later this year.

"O'Reilly has proven with ?Killing Lincoln' and ?Killing Kennedy' that the public is fascinated with the tragic tales of these renowned historical figures, and this is one of the most dramatic stories ever told," Scott said of this latest venture. "We are privileged to once again work with National Geographic Channel to bring Bill's vision to the screen."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nat-geo-channel-ridley-scott-bill-oreilly-team-015726761.html

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