Actors Express Shock Over Use of Past Work in New fox News Podcast
Several actors, including Kristen Bell adn Brian Cox, have publicly expressed surprise and dismay over Fox News’ announcement of “Teh Life of Jesus Christ Podcast,” a new series repurposing audio they recorded for a dramatized audio Bible years ago.
Bell learned of the podcast’s existence only the day before the public announcement, when her team received an invitation to appear on Fox & Friends, according to a report from Rolling Stone. Her representatives confirmed she never granted permission for the original 2010 audiobook, The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, to be repurposed. The audiobook was acquired by Fox News Media thru a licensing deal with Gulfstream Studios.
Cox’s team similarly reported being “similarly shocked,” with the actor only becoming aware of the podcast “today,” as stated to Rolling Stone. A representative explained, “Brian recorded audio for a project over a decade ago… He was unaware that the audio would be repurposed for a new podcast series in 2025.”
Actors Malcolm McDowell and John Rhys-Davies also expressed surprise. McDowell’s team stated they “found out about it when everyone else did. We were never consulted,nothing was renegotiated,and we would not have approved.” Rhys-Davies learned of the “repurposed” project earlier this week.
A note obtained by Rolling Stone from a producer associated with the podcast requested cast members “not mention that this audio New Testament Bible was produced years ago, we’d like it to feel like something that was produced more recently.” The Guardian reports that Fox News has transformed the 15-year-old,23-hour audiobook into a multi-part podcast series,adding new content from Ainsley Earhardt.
The situation is further elaborate by the differing political views of some involved. While some actors are openly Christian, Brian Cox has previously described Fox News as “the devil.”
Fox News responded to Rolling Stone, stating that “Gulfstream Studios produced The Life of Jesus Podcast from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by Fox news Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved.”
The podcast is part of a broader strategy by fox News Media to expand into Christian-themed programming and attract subscribers to it’s Fox Nation streaming service. Jason Klarman, Fox news Media’s chief digital and marketing officer, told Variety there is an “insatiable appetite among a very passionate audience that is underserved.” Earhardt previously launched Fox Nation with a Bible study programme in 2018.
“The Life of Jesus Christ Podcast” is scheduled to launch on November 30th,coinciding with the Christian calendar,with 13-episode installments released during Advent,Christmas week,the begining of Lent,and Palm Sunday.
