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Messiah (American TV series)

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Messiah
GenreThriller
Created byMichael Petroni
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Johnny Klimek
  • Gabriel Isaac Mounsey
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Brandon Guercio
  • David Nicksay
CinematographyDanny Ruhlmann
Editors
  • Martin Connor
  • Joseph Jett Sally
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time38–55 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)

Messiah is an American thriller web television series created by Michael Petroni. The first season consists of ten episodes,[1] which were released on Netflix on January 1, 2020.[2][3] The series stars Mehdi Dehbi, Tomer Sisley, Michelle Monaghan, John Ortiz, Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landoulsi and Wil Traval.

Premise

The series focuses on the modern world's reaction to a man, who first appears in the Middle East claiming to be the eschatological return of 'Isa (Jesus). His sudden appearance and apparent miracles spark a growing international following, casting doubts around who he really is, a case investigated by a CIA officer.[4]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"He That Hath an Ear"James McTeigueMichael PetroniJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
2"Tremor"James McTeigueMichael Petroni & Bruce Marshall RomansJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
3"The Finger of God"James McTeigueAmy Louise Johnson & Kelly WilesJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
4"Trial"James McTeigueMichael Brandon GuercioJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
5"So That Seeing They May Not See"Kate WoodsEmily SilverJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
6"We Will Not All Sleep"Kate WoodsMichael Petroni & Michael BondJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
7"It Came to Pass as It Was Spoken"Kate WoodsEoghan O'DonnellJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
8"Force Majeure"Kate WoodsEoghan O'DonnellJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
9"God Is Greater"James McTeigueBruce Marshall RomansJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)
10"The Wages of Sin"James McTeigueMichael PetroniJanuary 1, 2020 (2020-01-01)

Production

Development

On November 17, 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes.[1] The series was created by Michael Petroni who is also credited as an executive producer and lead showrunner of the series. Additional executive producers include Andrew Deane, James McTeigue, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. Production companies involved with the series include Industry Entertainment and LightWorkers Media.[1]

Casting

In January 2018, it was announced that John Ortiz[7], Tomer Sisley[5] and Mehdi Dehbi[5] would star in the series. In May 2018, it was announced that Michelle Monaghan had been cast in a starring role.[6][9] In June 2018, it was reported that Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landoulsi and Wil Traval had joined the main cast.[4] In the same month, it was announced that Beau Bridges and Philip Baker Hall had joined the cast in a recurring capacity.[8]

Filming

Principal photography for the first season took place in Amman, Jordan; Albuquerque, Mountainair, Estancia, Belen, Santa Fe and Clines Corners, New Mexico from June 2018 to August 2018.[10][11]

Release

The first season was released on January 1, 2020.[2]

Marketing

On December 3, 2019, the official trailer for the series was released by Netflix.[2]

Reception

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 29% approval rating for the first season with an average rating of 7/10, based on 7 reviews.[12]

Controversy

The trailer received negative receptions on Twitter from several Sunni Muslims,[13] due to supposed similarities between the character played by Mehdi Dehbi, al-Masih, and the Islamic conception of the Antichrist, Al-Masih ad-Dajjal.[14] One user claimed to have been blocked by the official Twitter accounts of Messiah and Netflix for suggesting the character was the Dajjal. Some Twitter users considered this an indication of Netflix's inability to cater to a non-English-speaking audience.[15]

In December 2019, it was announced in a press conference, that The Royal Film Commission of Jordan requested Netflix to refrain streaming Messiah in the country due to the provocative subject matter and controversial religious content covered in the series.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (November 16, 2017). "'Messiah': Netflix Orders Religious Drama Series From Mark Burnett & Roma Downey". Deadline. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Nemetz, Dave (December 3, 2019). "Messiah Trailer: Is This Miracle Worker a Con Man, or the Second Coming?". TVLine. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  3. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 24, 2019). "Michelle Monaghan Under The Spell Of Blumhouse-Sony's 'The Craft'". Deadline. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Pedersen, Erik (7 June 2018). "'Messiah': Netflix Adds Nearly A Dozen To Cast Of Suspense Thriller Series". Deadline. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (January 29, 2018). "'Messiah': Tomer Sisley & Mehdi Dehbi Cast In Mark Burnett's Netflix Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 4, 2018). "'Messiah': Michelle Monaghan To Star In Netflix Drama Series From Mark Burnett & Roma Downey". Deadline. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Petski, Denise (January 29, 2018). "'Messiah': John Ortiz Cast In Netflix Drama Series From Mark Burnett & Roma Downey". Deadline. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Pedersen, Erik (June 28, 2018). "'Messiah': Beau Bridges & Philip Baker Hall To Recur On Netflix Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Boucher, Ashley (May 4, 2018). "Michelle Monaghan Cast in Netflix Drama 'Messiah'". TheWrap. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  10. ^ Gomez, Adrian (May 29, 2018). "Netflix series 'Messiah' to be filmed in New Mexico". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "Netflix shoots parts of "Messiah" series in Jordan". Roya News. November 28, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  12. ^ "Messiah: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Chapman, Tom (December 4, 2019). "Fans Are Threatening To Leave Netflix Due To Controversial New Show Messiah". Student Problems. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  14. ^ MESSIAH (December 3, 2019). "Who do you think he is? Messiah begins streaming January 1, only on @netflix. #MessiahIsComingpic.twitter.com/zx46AIS2zp". @MessiahNetflix. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Arabic speakers notice 'massive spoiler' ahead of new Netflix series Messiah". The Independent. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 30, 2019). "'Messiah': Jordan's Royal Film Commission Asks Netflix Not To Stream Provocative Series After Supporting Its Shoot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  17. ^ Mahjouri, Shakiel (December 30, 2019). "Jordan's Royal Film Commission Does Not Want 'Messiah' Streamed In The Country". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2019.