Kristen Bell Among Actors Shocked To Learn They Star in Fox Podcast About Jesus

Fox News Media’s Nov. 19 announcement about an upcoming 52-episode podcast titled “The Life of Jesus” took many of the celebrity actors by surprise. Kristen Bell (who voices Mary Magdalene) and Brian Cox (who voices God) are among the Hollywood stars who said they were blindsided by the project and never signed on to it.

Various actors said they recorded audio back in 2010 for a New Testament audiobook but weren’t aware the content was being repurposed. “This was long ago forgotten about,” said a representative for Malcolm McDowell, who voices Caiaphas. Other cast members include Neal McDonough as Jesus, John Rhys-Davies as the narrator, and Julia Ormond as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

RELATED: Christian Actor Neal McDonough Became Typecast as a Villain To Avoid Doing Kissing or Sex Scenes

“Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt will introduce each podcast episode and guide listeners through Jesus’ life, teachings, and miracles. “I just am excited that more people are open to talking about faith,” said Earhardt, who hosted a Fox Nation program about Bible study.

‘The Life of Jesus’ Features Repurposed Voices of Kristen Bell and Others

This week, Fox News Media announced that its new 52-episode podcast about Jesus would premiere at the end of this month. The content will be released in four 13-episode batches, on dates linked to the church calendar: Nov. 30 (for Advent), Dec. 21 (for Christmas), Feb. 15 (for Lent), and March 29 (for Holy Week).

Kristen Bell and other actors said they learned they were starring in this podcast right before news of it went public. A representative for Bell, star of “The Good Place,” said she received a request to appear on “Fox & Friends” one day before the podcast announcement.

Malcolm McDowell’s rep said, “We had no knowledge these recordings were being redistributed as a podcast until this week.”

The older project was titled “The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible,” a 23-hour New Testament audiobook from 2010. According to one news outlet, Bell’s team is investigating whether it is legal to repurpose her voice work.

“Succession” star Brian Cox, who voices God in the new podcast, previously called Fox News “the devil” and described the Bible as “the worst book ever.”