Jesus will return on Easter Sunday 2018, and NBC hopes the ratings will be glorious.
The network will broadcast a live stage production of the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” on the evening of April 1, the date on which Easter falls for western Christians in the coming year.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the co-creators of the original Broadway musical by the same name, have signed on to executive-produce the program with “La La Land” producer Marc Platt and veteran NBC hands Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
Mr. Zadan and Mr. Meron have produced all of NBC’s live musical productions since “The Sound of Music Live!” in 2013, THR noted.
“As we continue to expand the profile of our live musicals, we are thrilled to be partnering with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to bring a new live staging of the iconic Jesus Christ Superstar to NBC,” NBC entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt said, THR reported. “Casting has just begun, but we want to fill out this classic show with as many recording artists as possible to give proper voice to what is the original rock opera score.”
It’s unclear what counterprogramming moves, if any, that competitors will make in light of the announcement.
Rival network ABC long had a tradition of airing the 1956 picture “The Ten Commandments” on Easter Sunday evenings, but in recent years has broadcast the Charlton Heston epic on Holy Saturday instead.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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