Roma Downey, Mark Burnett's Exclusive Message to Christian Post Readers About 'A.D. The Bible Continues'
The dramatic miniseries "A.D. The Bible Continues" was short-lived on television, but its Nov. 3 release on Blu-ray and DVD gives the Bible saga a crack at immortality. A four-disc set offers viewers 45 minutes of exclusive features that chronicle the creation of the series.
Just for readers of The Christian Post, executive producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett want to share a special message.
"Hello to all of our friends at The Christian Post. We couldn't be more thankful for all of your incredible support of 'A.D. The Bible Continues,' and we are thrilled to experience the journey with you once again," Downey said in a video created for CP. "'A.D.' captures the remarkable story of the Apostles after the crucifixion. An event that forever changed the course of human history."
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Burnett ("The Bible," "The Voice"), reminded viewers that "A.D." is about "extraordinary faith in the face of unimaginable adversity."
The series covers major events that occurred throughout the Book of Acts, and Downey is praying that the saga can change people's lives.
"We pray that this show will serve as a catalyst for furthering the Gospel and encourage you to be bold in your faith," she told CP. "Thank you so much and God bless you."
It seems that "A.D." is resonating with viewers, including Hillsong megachurch pastor Joel Houston. Houston previously told CP that he believes the series is a part of God's plan for people.
"It's God's plan for helping people understand who Jesus is and why to follow Him. There are universal aspects of searching for love, searching for value, searching for security, for freedom — all this stuff in its purest form — that's what the Gospel [fulfills] and what the Church is all about," Houston told The Christian Post. "Showing the New Testament — I've read those passages of Scripture my whole life. When you play it out on the screen, there are so many parallels to the world we are living in right now."
While "A.D." may be touching the lives of Christians, some feel the project reaches beyond believers. Adam Levy, the Jewish actor who portrays Peter in the series, previously told CP that the story could pique the interest of more than just Christian audiences.
" ... I don't think it matters what you are," Adam Levy told CP at the "A.D." premiere reception in New York City earlier this year. "At some point, I will sit down with my children to watch it and I would say it's a universal story to be told to the world."
Chipo Chung, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene, said she "certainly" believes "A.D." upholds the Gospel and justifiably uses a bit of artistic license.
"I think that Mark Burnett and Roma Downey are spreading the Good News about the Bible in a way that's palatable because the Bible has so many great stories. In fact, in its time, the Bible was like going to the movies, the stories that were in it," Chung previously told CP. "At the same time, it's very intricately balanced with the power play between the different factions that were causing the oppression. The Romans and the whole idea of empire, and the high priests and the machinations of power there."
She added, "There's a lot of freedom that they [Burnett and Downey] have with those stories. The biblical stories are very biblically accurate, and the characters who aren't as iconic within the Bible, there's an absolute freedom, so you'll have never seen this story of Rome before."
