Hollywood Stars Discover Old Recordings Used in New Fox Faith Podcast
A major controversy has erupted in Hollywood after several high-profile actors discovered that audio recordings they made fifteen years ago are being repurposed for a new Fox News Christian podcast without their knowledge or consent. The situation has left stars including Kristen Bell and Brian Cox feeling shocked and misled by the network's actions.
The Surprise Announcement That Stunned Hollywood
The Life of Jesus Christ Podcast, announced on Wednesday as part of Fox News's new Christian vertical called Fox Faith, boasts an impressive cast of over 100 actors. The 52-episode series promises to guide listeners through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, with each episode introduced by Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt.
According to the announcement, the voice cast includes some of Hollywood's biggest names: Kristen Bell as Mary Magdalene, Sean Astin as Matthew, Neal McDonough as Jesus, Brian Cox as the Voice of God, Malcolm McDowell as Caiaphas, John Rhys-Davies as the narrator and Julia Ormond as Mary. However, representatives for several of these actors have since revealed that their clients were completely unaware of their involvement in this new project.
Fifteen-Year-Old Recordings Resurface Without Permission
Representatives for Kristen Bell told Rolling Stone that the actress was "blindsided by the announcement" as she had recorded the audio material a full fifteen years ago. Her team only learned about Fox's plans to release a podcast featuring her name when they received an invitation for her to appear on Fox & Friends the following day.
Bell's representatives clarified that she never gave permission for the original audiobook – The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, released in 2010 – to be repurposed into a new podcast. Fox News Media had acquired the material through a licensing deal with a company called Gulfstream Studios.
The confusion extended to other cast members as well. Representatives for Brian Cox, Malcolm McDowell and John Rhys-Davies confirmed to Rolling Stone that they were similarly shocked by the news. Some only became aware of the new podcast as news of Bell's situation began circulating on Thursday.
A representative for Brian Cox stated: "Brian recorded audio for a project over a decade ago. He was unaware that the audio would be repurposed for a new podcast series in 2025. Brian only became aware of the podcast today."
Attempts to Conceal the Age of Recordings
Rolling Stone obtained a particularly revealing note from a producer associated with the new Fox podcast. The producer requested that a celebrity cast member "not mention that this audio New Testament Bible was produced years ago, we'd like it to feel like something that was produced more recently."
This instruction suggests a deliberate attempt to present the fifteen-year-old, 23-hour audiobook as fresh content, despite its age. Fox News has repurposed this old material into a multi-part podcast series with new additions from Ainsley Earhardt.
A spokesperson for Malcolm McDowell emphasised the lack of consultation, stating: "We found out about it when everyone else did. We were never consulted, nothing was renegotiated, and we would not have approved."
Political Tensions Add to the Controversy
The situation becomes particularly awkward given that some of the actors involved have been openly critical of Fox News in the past. Brian Cox has previously referred to the rightwing news network as "the devil", making his involuntary association with the project especially ironic.
While some actors purportedly involved with the new podcast have spoken openly about their Christian faith, others have been critical of Fox News or the closely associated Trump administration, adding another layer of complexity to the controversy.
Fox News's Push Into Christian Programming
The new podcast represents part of a larger strategic push by Fox News Media into Christian-themed programming. The network is attempting to lure more subscribers to its Fox Nation subscription service by targeting what it sees as an underserved audience.
Jason Klarman, the chief digital and marketing officer at Fox News Media, told Variety this week: "I think there is an insatiable appetite among a very passionate audience that is underserved." Earhardt had previously helped launch Fox Nation with a Bible study program.
The Life of Jesus Christ Podcast is scheduled to launch on 30 November, timed to coincide with the Christian calendar. The 52 episodes will be released in 13-episode installments at key moments: the start of Advent, during Christmas week, the beginning of Lent and Palm Sunday.
In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for Fox News told Rolling Stone that "Gulfstream Studios produced The Life of Jesus Podcast from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by Fox News Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved."
This statement directly contradicts the claims made by representatives for Bell, Cox, McDowell and Rhys-Davies, who all maintain their clients were unaware of the new project and did not provide permission for their old recordings to be used in this manner.
