'Killing Jesus' Palm Sunday Premiere Breaks National Geographic Ratings Record with 3.7 Million Viewers

Killing Jesus, a three-hour made-for-TV movie chronicling the life and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth adapted from the 2013 book of the same name by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard premiered March 29th, Palm Sunday, at the National Geographic Channel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Killing Jesus averaged 3.7 million viewers - up by some 300,000 from the previous Killing feature films about Presidents Kennedy and Lincoln. As gathered by Deadline, the show's 8:00 pm premiere's 1.0 rating in adults 25-54 is the highest rating for that demographic since the net's November 2013 premiere of O'Reilly's Killing Kennedy, which clocked a 1.1, and 300% higher than NatGeo's Sunday 8-11 pm average this calendar year.

The film which was also simultaneously broadcasted in 45 languages across 171 countries and in Spanish on Nat Geo Mundo, marks the third collaboration between National Geographic, Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions and co-executive producer and book co-author Bill O'Reilly, the previous two being Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, both of which have been Emmy Awards-nominated. Fox News Channel will be re-running Killing Jesus this Good Friday at 8:00 pm and on Easter Sunday also at 8:00 pm.

Lebanese-American actor Haas Sleiman, known for his guest starring roles in such TV series as Covert Affairs, Nikita, 24, and Nurse Jackie, played the title role. Born and raised as a Muslim, Sleiman during the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena early this month, in responding to questions about him playing the part of Jesus, answered: "Islam believes that Jesus is a prophet, and they honor him - highly - and they respect him and they follow his teachings. So, for me, as somebody who was raised Muslim, it is an honor to actually play Jesus, just because of that. But I also, myself, for the past 10 years, have been shaped by Jesus. I really believe in his teachings. I think me playing this part highlights his teaching in a very nice way."

The cast of Killing Jesus also included Kelsey Grammer as King Herod the Great, Stephen Moyer as Pontius Pilate, Rufus Sewell as Caiaphas, John Rhys Davies as Anna, Emmanuelle Chriqui as Herodia, Eoin Macken as Herod Antipas, Tamsin Egerton as Claudia, and Klara Issova as Mary Magdalene.

Made at a reported $12 million budget, Killing Jesus is National Geographic Channel's most ambitious film project to date. It was filmed entirely in the Moroccan desert with a crew of 250, more than 4,500 extras and 93 speaking roles filled by actors representing Lebanon, Morocco, Czech Republic, Ireland, Great Britain, Israel, Canada, Syria, Australia and the United States.