Lead: Fox News Media announced on Wednesday that its faith vertical, Fox Faith, will premiere The Life of Jesus Podcast, a 52-episode series led by Ainsley Earhardt that traces the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The rollout named more than 100 celebrity contributors, including Kristen Bell as the voice of Mary Magdalene — a credit Bell says surprised her. Bell’s representatives say the audio in question was recorded in 2010 for a separate New Testament audiobook and was later licensed to become part of Fox’s new series. The first episodes are scheduled to air on Nov. 30.
Key Takeaways
- Fox Faith announced The Life of Jesus Podcast, a 52-episode series set to begin Nov. 30, hosted by Ainsley Earhardt.
- The network’s press materials list over 100 actors, including Kristen Bell as Mary Magdalene and Brian Cox as the voice of God.
- Kristen Bell’s team says the performances were recorded in 2010 for The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible and were not newly produced for Fox.
- Public records and reporting indicate a producer from the 2010 audio partnered with Gulfstream Studios to license the material to Fox Faith.
- Rolling Stone reports a producer asked talent to avoid saying the material was produced years earlier; that guidance was included in communications obtained by the outlet.
- John Rhys-Davies’s representative confirmed he learned this week that his past audio was being repurposed; other actors’ teams have been contacted for comment.
- The original audio runs roughly 23 hours; Fox’s new presentation repackages that content into a multi-episode podcast format with added hosting segments.
Background
The audio at the center of this dispute was first released in 2010 as The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, a New Testament production that used well-known actors to voice biblical figures. At the time, dramatized scripture projects often contracted celebrities for audiobook roles to reach broader audiences; these projects were distributed by producers and third-party studios. Over the past decade, podcasting became the dominant serialized audio format, prompting rights holders to explore repackaging older audio catalogs into episodic series.
Fox Faith is the religion-focused arm of Fox News Media and has pursued faith-oriented programming as part of a broader strategy to expand content verticals. In announcing The Life of Jesus Podcast, Fox framed the series as a tentpole project for the vertical, highlighting celebrity participation and the new episodic structure. The reported licensing chain involves a producer tied to the original 2010 audiobook and Gulfstream Studios, which—according to public records and reporting—licensed the material to Fox Faith for its series.
Main Event
The network’s Nov. 27 announcement promoted a star-studded cast and positioned Ainsley Earhardt as the host guiding listeners through 52 episodes. The press materials named Kristen Bell as Mary Magdalene alongside actors such as Brian Cox, Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davies, and Julia Ormond. Bell’s representatives say she did not receive advance notice that her 2010 narration would be presented as part of a new Fox podcast, and that she learned of the redeployment only when asked to appear on Fox & Friends a day before the public announcement.
According to Rolling Stone reporting, the Fox release repurposes roughly 23 hours of dramatized New Testament audio into a multipart series, supplementing the archival recordings with Fox-hosted elements. A producer associated with the project reportedly instructed at least one contributor to avoid referencing the audio’s original production date, asking that it be presented as if more recently produced. That instruction appears in notes obtained by Rolling Stone and is described as part of outreach to talent.
Producers and studios involved in the chain say the necessary rights to the recordings were licensed before Fox announced the series. A representative for John Rhys-Davies confirmed to Rolling Stone that the actor learned this week that archived recordings were being reused. Rolling Stone has also reached out to other named actors for comment; Fox News Media was contacted for a response to the reporting but had not provided a public statement at the time of publication.
Analysis & Implications
The incident spotlights how ownership and licensing of archival audio can lead to public friction when performers expect notification or control over subsequent uses. Contracts for audiobooks vary widely: some grant broad reuse rights to producers or distributors, while others require consent for repurposing. When high-profile names are involved, the reputational stakes rise, especially if talent is linked publicly to a network they may criticize or avoid.
From a business perspective, repackaging existing audio into a serialized podcast reduces production costs and leverages name recognition to attract listeners. For Fox Faith, transforming a long-form audiobook into 52 short episodes creates multiple distribution opportunities across platforms and monetization windows. For talent and their representatives, however, the practice raises questions about transparency, attribution, and whether publicity tied to a new release should require fresh approvals.
There are potential audience and brand risks too. Some contributors named in the press release have publicly criticized Fox News in the past; one high-profile example cited in reporting is actor Brian Cox, who has previously called Fox News “the devil.” That contrast between contributors’ past statements and their inclusion in a Fox vertical could prompt public scrutiny and debate, complicating Fox Faith’s outreach goals. How audiences and advertisers respond to such dissonance remains uncertain and could influence similar licensing decisions industrywide.
Comparison & Data
| Item | 2010 Audiobook | Fox Podcast |
|---|---|---|
| Run time | Approximately 23 hours | Repackaged into 52 episodes (length varies) |
| Primary host/guide | None (dramatized audio) | Ainsley Earhardt (Fox & Friends) |
| Original release | 2010 | First episodes Nov. 30 |
The table shows the core differences: an archival dramatized audiobook with a continuous runtime is being segmented into episodic installments with added hosting and framing. This approach is increasingly common as rights holders seek to refresh legacy content for podcast audiences. However, segmentation changes context and presentation, which can affect how contributors view their participation.
Reactions & Quotes
Bell’s camp described the discovery as unexpected and asserted she did not authorize the rebranding of the 2010 recording into a new Fox podcast. That reaction frames the issue as one of notification and consent rather than a dispute over performance content.
“She only learned Fox Faith had acquired the project when asked to appear on Fox & Friends a day before the rollout,”
Kristen Bell representative, via Rolling Stone
Producers involved in licensing emphasize that rights transfers for older recordings are legally permissible when contracts allow. Those working in audio distribution say it is not unusual for producers to license catalog recordings to new platforms, though best practices include notifying credited performers when practical.
“The audio was produced years ago and has been repackaged for a serialized podcast format,”
Producer notes referenced by Rolling Stone
Some actors’ representatives expressed surprise upon learning their performances were being reused under a Fox-branded project, illustrating the communication gap between rights holders and talent in catalog licensing scenarios.
“He only learned of the repurposed project earlier this week,”
Representative for John Rhys-Davies, via Rolling Stone
Unconfirmed
- No public record has been produced showing the exact contractual language between the original 2010 producer and the actors; that detail remains unverified.
- The degree to which Fox News Media negotiated new edits or added narration to the 2010 audio beyond host segments has not been independently confirmed.
- Responses from several other named actors listed in Fox’s press release were not available at the time of reporting; their current awareness or approval is unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
The episode illustrates a broader industry tension: legacy audio libraries are valuable assets for modern podcast distributors, but repurposing archival performances can create surprise and reputational complications if performers are not alerted. Legally permissible licensing does not always align with expectations around notification and consent, especially when corporate branding is visible and politically charged.
For listeners, the repackaged series will likely be judged on production quality and presentation when episodes begin on Nov. 30. For talent and content owners, this case may prompt closer scrutiny of contract language and renewed emphasis on clear communication when catalog material is monetized anew.
Sources
- Rolling Stone — media report summarizing interviews, documents, and representatives’ statements