Malibu’s famed TV power couple Mark Burnett and wife Roma Downey have been on an epic journey — telling the “greatest story ever told.” They’ve been on an international quest ever since launching their Bible series, which now continues its next chapter, “A.D.,” and premieres on NBC Sunday, April 5.
For families of faith gathered around the table at Easter Sunday, what better way to spread the message and share the word?
For Mark and Roma, it was the experience of a lifetime and a sequel to their big first Bible-related hit, which was released last year.
“Mark and I were shooting the Bible series in Morocco and we were loving the work, what the potential of the work could be and we were loving working together,” said Roma. “It was coming to a close and I said, ‘We have to do something else, this is just so good. What could we do?’ So the idea for ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’ was actually born on location.”
Before long, Mark, creator of the megahits “The Voice” and “Survivor,” became as enthusiastic about the project as his wife.
“‘A.D.’ takes off from where ‘The Bible’ finished,” he explained. “It is the story of how those 12 apostles continued on with the Holy Spirit and ended up defeating Rome.”
The two promise an epic on a scale and with a style that’s never been attempted.
“‘A.D.’ will have huge production values,” Mark said. “It will be gritty and it’s going to be authentic,” Roma added.
For “Touched by an Angel” star Roma and reality TV titan Mark, it’s also been a tremendous personal journey. “To be able to bring these incredible, exciting and meaningful stories to the screen has been thrilling,” Roma told Malibu Seen. “To be able to produce them together with my own husband is a blessing.”
The tireless couple has put in long days with all their heart and soul. Their set is said to be the largest freestanding set in Morocco, which took 500 local crewmembers to build. The series is described as an uplifting spiritual journey through the later chapters of biblical history.
Beginning at “that fateful moment of the crucifixion and the resurrection, ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’ will focus on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Christ to a world dominated by political unrest, and the start of a whole new religion that would dramatically reshape the history of the world.”
And the Malibu pair tried to stay true to the history they know.
“Once again, we worked with advisors and scholars to guide us and make sure our research was thorough,” Roma said. “We worked with biblical experts to make sure the series is accurate and you can really feel what it will be like to be one of the disciples of Jesus.”
Said Father Jonathan Morris, one of those consulted on the project, “This is really seeing the Bible come alive.” “A.D. The Bible Continues” airs on Easter Sunday. Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are the executive producers.