The BBC has announced it will be airing a new four-part documentary series exploring the life of Jesus Christ. The programmer framed the series as an “ambitious new landmark series” set to air in 2027. “Drawing on the latest historical research, archaeological discoveries, technological innovation and expert testimony, this four-part series will expand and sharpen our understanding of one the most influential people in history,” said BBC. The UK-based Wonderhood Studios is producing the series. Per the BBC, the series will rely on “visceral, intimate detail” and will include information found in the Gospels “and elsewhere.”

Daisy Scalchi, BBC Head of Religion and Ethics, TV vowed that the series would “bring [Jesus Christ’s] life into focus like never before” and that it would “re-look at the evidence and follow the path of Jesus’ life to map how he sparked a revolution that continues to impact our lives over 2000 years later.” Wonderhood Studios’s Creative Director, Tom Garton, said the series would offer deeper insight into “the people, places, beliefs and conflicts that shaped [Jesus’s] life and the world-changing religion that followed.” He said the studio was “proud” to be working on the series.

The new series seems to be leaning into the growth of Christian religious content that media has been producing in the last decade. The popularity of Dallas Jenkins’s “The Chosen” has led to a number of Christian-based media, including the animated “David” movie for children, the “House of David” series on Amazon Prime, and Mel Gibson’s upcoming “The Passion of the Christ” sequel, “The Resurrection of the Christ.” However, the BBC’s statement is somewhat vague on what it will make of Jesus’s portrayal as the Son of God or his resurrection, whether or not each will be treated as historical fact or inspiring legend. The BBC did state the series would include input from “major Christian thinkers” but it also included that there would be input from “Jewish and Muslim faith leaders.”  While Jewish faith leaders could certainly give insight into Old and New Testament Jewish life, Muslims hold Jesus in a different light than Christians. While acknowledging Him as an important figure within the Quran, Jesus is not portrayed as the Son of God and his death and resurrection are denied. “I fear this will be a unashamed hit job on Christian orthodoxy,” wrote one user on X following the show’s announcement.