Netflix cancels Messiah after one season
David Farnor | On 03, Dec 2019
Netflix’s Messiah will not have a second coming, with the streamer cancelling its drama after just one season.
The 10-part drama follows the modern world’s reaction to a man who appears in the Middle East claiming to be the Messiah, explores the lines between religion, faith and politics. Michelle Monaghan stars as CIA officer Eva Geller, who uncovers information about a man (Mehdi Dehbi) gaining international attention through acts of public disruption. She begins an investigation into his origins, but as he continues to cultivate followers who allege he’s performing miracles, the global media become increasingly beguiled by this charismatic figure, and Geller must race to unravel the mystery of whether he really is a divine entity or a deceptive con artist capable of dismantling the world’s geopolitical order.
Created by Michael Petroni (The Book Thief) and directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and Kate Woods (Rectify), the series proved controversial before it even premiered, thanks to its use of the name “al-Masih”,
“The result is part Homeland, part The Greatest Story Ever Told, but for all its attention-grabbing moves – tapping into themes of surveillance, security, public perception and private convictions – this second coming may take too long to reward the average viewer’s faith,” we wrote in our review of the show.
Now, a few month down the line, cast member Wil Traval confirmed on Instagram that Netflix had decided not to pick up the show for a second run: “It’s a very sad day today. I have just received news from Netflix that there will be no season 2 of #messiah I wanted to say to all the fans thank you for your support and love. I wish things were different.”
Messiah: Season 1 is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.
Trailer: Messiah comes to Netflix on New Year’s Day
3rd December 2019
Messiah is coming to Netflix for the New Year, as the streaming service prepares to unveil its new global thriller.
The 10-part drama follows the modern world’s reaction to a man who appears in the Middle East claiming to be the Messiah, explores the lines between religion, faith and politics. Michelle Monaghan stars as CIA officer Eva Geller, who uncovers information about a man (Mehdi Dehbi) gaining international attention through acts of public disruption. She begins an investigation into his origins, but as he continues to cultivate followers who allege he’s performing miracles, the global media become increasingly beguiled by this charismatic figure, and Geller must race to unravel the mystery of whether he really is a divine entity or a deceptive con artist capable of dismantling the world’s geopolitical order.
As the story unfolds, multiple perspectives are interwoven including that of an Israeli intelligence officer (Tomer Sisley), a Texas preacher (John Ortiz) and his daughter (Stefania LaVie Owen), a Palestinian refugee (Sayyid El Alami) and the journalist (Jane Adams) who covers the story. The series also stars Melinda Page Hamilton, Wil Traval, Fares Landoulsi, Dermot Mulroney and Beau Bridges.
Created by Michael Petroni (The Book Thief), directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and Kate Woods (Rectify), and executive produced by Petroni, McTeigue, Andrew Deane (The Double), Mark Burnett and Roma Downey (The Bible Series, Ben Hur), the Netflix original series premieres on 1st January 2020.
Here’s the first trailer:
Netflix’s Messiah finds supporting cast
12th June 2018
Netflix’s Messiah has rounded out its supporting cast with a dozen new regular and recurring faces joining the series.
The drama, which follows the modern world’s reaction to a man who appears in the Middle East claiming to be the Messiah, explores the lines between religion, faith and politics. The series is created by Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Book Thief) and brought to Netflix by Petroni and Emmy-winning producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor and The Bible Series).
Medhi Dehbi (Tyrant) plays Al Masih, who creates a groundswell of followers around him, and is joined by Michelle Monaghan as Eva, a US intelligence officer pursuing him. Tomer Sisley (We’re the Millers) plays Avrim Dahan, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, and John Ortiz plays Felix, a struggling Latino preacher with a Texan daughter.
Now, that core assemble is expanding rapidly, with a host of familiar names to star alongside them.
Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landousil and Wil Traval will all have regular supporting roles in the series.
Hamilton (Devious Maids) has been cast as the daughter of preacher Felix, alongside Owen (The Beach Bum) as her sister, Rebecca, a teen living in the backwater Texas town and wants to leave her life behind. Adams (Twin Peaks) plays Miriam, a bitter reporter from CNN. Traval (Jessica Jones) plays Will, a former military veteran who is now an FBI agent who finds himself at loggerheads with Monaghan’s Eva.
Barbara Eve Harris, Iqbal Theba, Emily Kinney, Jackson Hurst and Nicole Rose Scimeca will play recurring roles in the show. Harris will play Katherine, Eva’s level-headed boss, Theba has been cast as Danny, Under Secretary for the Middle East, Scimeca will play Raeah, a sick child who goes on a pilgrimage with her mother, Staci (Hardwick), while Hurst will play Jonah, Staci’s husband and Raeah’s father.
Newcomer El Alami has also been cast as Jibril, an orphaned Syrian refugee who leaves Damascus to become a devotee of the new Messiah, with newcomer Landousil joining him as fellow refugee Samir.
Michelle Monaghan joins Netflix’s Messiah
5th May 2018
Michelle Monaghan will co-star in Netflix’s new philosophical drama, MEssiah.
The epic series, which follows the modern world’s reaction to a man who appears in the Middle East claiming to be the Messiah, explores the lines between religion, faith and politics. The series is created by Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Book Thief) and brought to Netflix by Petroni and Emmy-winning producer Mark Burnett (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor and The Bible Series).
The duo have already found their Messiah in the form of Medhi Dehbi (Tyrant, London Has Fallen). He plays Al Masih, who creating a groundswell of followers around him and leaves people wondering about his identity. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order?
Debhi will be joined by Monaghan as Eva Geller, a tenacious US intelligence officer who will pit her years of experience and wits against Al-Masih, going to the ends of the earth to prosecute the controversial, divisive figure. Monaghan, of True Detective, Source Code and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang fame, comes to the project fresh from her co-lead role in Hulu’s The Path, which just compelted its third and final season.
She joins a cast that includes Tomer Sisley (We’re the Millers) as Avrim Dahan, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, and John Ortiz as Felix, a struggling Latino preacher with a Texan daughter.
The 10-hour series will span multiple points of view, including those of a Palestinian refugee and the media.
Netflix finds its Messiah in Mehdi Dehbi
30th January 2018
Netflix has found its Messiah for its new philosophical drama.
The epic series, which explores the lines between religion, faith and politics, will chronicle the modern world’s reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East, creating a groundswell of followers around him with his claims that he is the Messiah. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order?
The series is created by Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Book Thief) and brought to Netflix by Petroni and Emmy-winning producer Mark Burnett, MGM’s President, Television Group & Digital (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor and The Bible Series).
The intriguing premise was unveiled to the world last year, leaving Netflix with the Biblical challenge of finding someone to do justice to the divine possibility of a second coming. Now, though, Netflix has found its Messiah in the form of Mehdi Dehbi.
Dehbi, last seen in London Has Fallen and FX’s Tyrant, will play Al Masih, whose enigmatic appearance in the world leaves people wondering about his identity. Dehbi leads a growing cast, with Tomer Sisley (We’re the Millers) set to co-star as Avrim Dahan, an Israeli Shin Bet officer. John Ortiz will join them as Felix, a struggling Latino preacher with a Texan daughter.
In 10 hour-long episodes, the story unfolds from multiple points of view, including that of Felix, Avrim, a young CIA agent, Palestinian refugee and the media.
Netflix announces coming of Messiah in 2019
17th November 2017
A mysterious roaming the world, raising questions of faith and belief is coming next year – to Netflix.
The streaming giant has announced its latest original series, Messiah, an epic drama exploring the lines between religion, faith and politics.
The series will chronicle the modern world’s reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East, creating a groundswell of followers around him with his claims that he is the Messiah. Is he sent from God or is he a dangerous fraud bent on dismantling the world’s geopolitical order? In 10 hour-long episodes, the story unfolds from multiple points of view, including a young CIA agent, an Israeli Shin Bet officer, a Latino preacher and his Texan daughter, a Palestinian refugee and the media.
The series is created by Michael Petroni (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Book Thief) and brought to Netflix by Petroni and Emmy-winning producer Mark Burnett, MGM’s President, Television Group & Digital (The Voice, Shark Tank, Survivor and The Bible Series).
The show will be executive produced by Petroni, who also wrote the first episode. Also executive producing are Burnett and Roma Downey (The Bible Series, Son of God, Ben Hur), Andrew Deane (Industry Entertainment) and James McTeigue (Sense8, V for Vendetta), who will also serve as a director.
“Messiah promises to be a fascinating series for viewers of every faith, and a thrilling drama filled with multi-layered characters set on a global stage,” says Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix.
Petroni promises the show will have every viewer asking whether he is or isn’t the Messiah.
“How you answer that question may reveal more about you than it does about the show,” he comments. “Messiah challenges us to examine what we believe and why.”
Downey and Burnett add: “It’s a series that could change everything.”