BBC to spend £6million on new production of The Bible

chris

The BBC is to capitalise on the success of its Easter drama The Passion by spending millions on a new production of The Bible.

The corporation is to dramatise the most important and iconic stories from the Old Testament, using latest CGI graphics and actors.

State of the art technology will be used to vividly recreate scenes like Noah's Flood, on a scale never seen before.

Among the stories set to be retold are Cain and Abel, David and Goliath, Joseph's Coat and Samson and Delilah.

The series, costing up to £6million, will run as six hour long episodes on the BBC.

Corporation executives are billing it as an intelligent and entertaining guide. The broadcaster claims it will emphasise the humanity of the epic encounters and miraculous experiences.

Such is the scale of the programme, likely to air on BBC1, that it will not be ready for broadcast until the end of 2009.

The BBC is to line-up a major performer to narrate the series with Sir Ian McKellen, Michael Gambon and Kenneth Branagh among those touted for the role.

But the corporation may find itself dragged into controversy again after its recent series The Passion sparked anger.

It saw the BBC facing accusations of rewriting the Easter story by claiming Christ was nailed to the cross in a foetal position.

It also faced claims of exonerating Judas and Pontius Pilate and sparked anger by suggesting Mary had not known what was happening to her.

The BBC will bring in foreign broadcasters to help fund the blue-chip landmark project, including a Greek and Italian channels.

The Passion, which told the story of the last days of Jesus, who was played by Joseph Mawle, ran across Easter week.

The four-part dramatisation, which also starred James Nesbitt as Pontius Pilate, told the story of the crucifixion and resurrection and averaged 3.9million viewers.

An insider said the new project would be different from The Passion, in that it will not be as much of a normal scripted drama. Instead it will focus on recreating the most famous scene using CGI technology.


source: dailymail

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