NBC orders biblical miniseries 'A.D.' from Downey and Burnett

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. television network NBC announced it has green-lit the 12-hour miniseries "A.D.," a follow-up to the 2013 miniseries "The Bible" that aired on History.

Both projects were produced by husband-wife team Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

"A.D." will most likely air in spring 2015, NBC said.

"Last year, when Mark Burnett was launching 'The Bible' on cable, I told him, without hesitation, that if he wanted to tell more of the story, we'd love to do it at NBC," Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement Tuesday. "We are firmly in the 'event' business and nothing has more event potential than 'A.D.' as it continues immediately after the 'The Bible' ended. The heft of a broadcast network, combined with the promotional arms of NBCUniversal and Comcast, will push this miniseries to a mass audience. We value our relationship with Mark and Roma and know that no one could bring this story to life better than them."

"You might think the story is over at the crucifixion, but as most of the world knows, that was only the beginning," said Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment. "Everyone's lives were completely altered in an instant and the immediate aftermath of Christ's death had an impact on his disciples, his mother Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the time. In the first episode alone you see the last moments of the crucifixion, Judas taking his own life after betraying Christ, Peter denying Jesus three times, and then the miracle of the Resurrection. We feel so fortunate to be in the hands of Mark and Roma, who have proven that the greatest story ever told is still just that."

"We are so thrilled to be all systems go with NBC on 'A.D.,' our follow-up to 'The Bible,'" said Downey and Burnett in a joint statement. "It is the story that changed the world. Millions have died for it and billions live by it. We know that an enormous community will be counting the days until 'A.D.' premieres. We look forward to making this an epic global television event."

Simon Block is writing the script for "A.D." A director and cast will be announced at a later date, NBC said.