What hath The Da Vinci Code wrought. Variety reports:
Fox is worshipping at the “Church of Steve,” a half-hour comedy from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Prods.
Single-camera laffer, created and written by Chris Henchy (“I’m With Her”), revolves around an average Joe from New Jersey who finds out he’s a descendant of Jesus. Fox said it has given a put pilot commitment to the project, which will be produced by Gary Sanchez Prods. and Sony Pictures Television. . . .
Henchy said his “Steve” won’t have any religious superpowers, nor will the pilot script confirm that Steve is, in fact, actually a blood relative of Jesus.
Instead, the pilot sets up a scenario in which a biblical scholar from Italy comes to the conclusion that Steve is a descendant of Christ. Except for a few of his close friends and relatives, Steve — who’ll be unmarried and without children — keeps the news of his lineage a secret.
“We explore what this guy’s life is like with this knowledge,” Henchy said. “He’s a guy who always felt he was destined for something greater, who’s always trying to force his wisdom on other people.” . . .
Since Will Ferrell has played Jesus before — that’s him above — one wonders if he might end up reprising the role by making a guest appearance as Steve’s ancestor. And FWIW, on a completely unrelated note, I interviewed Ferrell eight years ago, back when A Night at the Roxbury (1998) came out, for my student paper.
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