Muslim Actor Defends His Casting in 'Killing Jesus' by Quoting Christ's Teachings
TV

Haaz Sleiman believes Jesus wouldn't judge his casting in the NatGeo movie as Jesus taught people to 'love your neighbor as yourself.'

AceShowbiz - Those who slammed the casting of Muslim actor Haaz Sleiman as the title character for National Geographic Channel's "Killing Jesus" may now feel ashamed. The actor, who was born and raised in Lebanon, has responded to the criticism with a message of tolerance.

"I cannot speak for Jesus, but I can quote his teachings and he said, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'... How would he react to me playing Jesus? He wouldn't judge it. He wouldn't judge his own enemy ... playing this part highlights his teaching in a very nice way," he said at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Wednesday, January 7 when a reporter told him that some Christian conservatives weren't thrilled with his casting in the project.

He added that he's honored to play Jesus. "In Islam, we believe Jesus is a prophet and respect him and follow his teachings and put him beside the Prophet Muhammad - a lot of people don't know that," he said. "As a person who was raised Muslim, it's an honor to play that...Personally, I've been heavily shaped by his teachings."

Sleiman also shared his reaction when he landed the role, "I'm going to sound cheesy right now: The first thing I thought was 'love.' I really just felt love in the moment. He has influenced me heavily prior to getting this part and there's nothing more powerful than that, and that's what's going to lead me through the whole journey. Every time I look at another cast member or member of crew, that I have love for them unconditionally no matter what they do. That was the first thing I felt - and then I called my mother, who said, '...bless you for playing Jesus, peace be upon him.' I thought that was lovely."

At the TCA event, "Killing Jesus" producers were also asked about what distinguish the TV movie from similar works in the past, "The Passion of The Christ" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told". "This is different in a major respect," said screenwriter Walon Green. "Other movies are about Jesus from the point of view of Jesus."

He continued, "This is a film that's really playing a man in his times, and the story has to involve the time around him, to the degree that you realize a critical stage is coming in this person's life. He cannot do what he is doing without political and other religious forces coalescing against him, and this will inevitably result in his death. This is the behind-the-scenes story of the life and death of Jesus."

Kelsey Grammer, who plays King Herod, thinks the TV movie will "win praise from every part of the Christian world," adding, "I think they find increased modern relevance is desirable." Green explained, "The goal in writing Jesus was to write somebody who, while we now accept or don't accept as a messianic figure, he himself was a person who was a human being, confronted by what that meant when people began seeing him" as such a figure, and what the "destiny of that was and yet didn't feel he could turn away from that."

"Killing Jesus" is based on Fox News Channel star Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's book of the same name. The duo also wrote "Killing Lincoln" and "Killing Kennedy" which have been turned into TV movies on NatGeo.

The three-hour film will premiere sometime this year. A behind-the-scenes look at the movie has been released via The Hollywood Reporter.

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