Watch: Earnest and jokey moments mix in the official trailer for Journey to Bethlehem
The film, which marks the directorial debut of music producer Adam Anders (Glee, The Prom, etc.), comes to theatres November 10.
Another decade, another big-screen movie about the birth of Jesus.
Following the gritty drama The Nativity Story and the animated comedy The Star,1 we now have the pop-rock musical Journey to Bethlehem—and to judge from the trailer released today, the new film will alternate between earnest, dramatic moments on the one hand and jokier, more casual exchanges that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Marvel movie on the other hand. (Herod, played by Antonio Banderas, to the Magi: “Why would I help find a new king in my kingdom?” One of the Magi: “Well, when you put it that way…”) (There’s also a line in the trailer that appears to riff, somewhat anachronistically, on the use of the phrase “I do” in modern western weddings.)
You can watch the new trailer here:
As ever, I look forward to seeing how this rather upbeat musical handles the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem. I mean, that’s what Herod does, right…?2
The film marks the directorial debut of Glee music producer Adam Anders, who wrote the script with High School Musical’s Peter Barsocchini. The songs are co-written by Anders, Nikki Anders, and Peer Astrom, the latter of whom collaborated with Anders on the score for Rock of Ages and the song ‘Wear Your Crown’ for The Prom. Anders, Astrom, and Barsocchini also worked on The Passion: New Orleans in 2016.
In addition to Banderas, the film also stars Fiona Palomo as Mary, Milo Manheim as Joseph, Lecrae as Gabriel, and Joel Smallbone as Herod’s son Antipater.
Journey to Bethlehem will arrive in theatres November 10.
Past posts on Journey to Bethlehem:
‘Has The Road to Bethlehem not been filmed yet?’ (August 19, 2022)
‘Adam Anders’ Nativity musical now filming in Spain’ (February 23, 2023)
‘Adam Anders’ Nativity musical gets a title’ (April 3, 2023)
‘Watch: The teaser trailer for Journey to Bethlehem’ (April 28, 2023)
Black Nativity could also be mentioned here, but the bulk of that film is set in the present day, and it never had quite the wide release that the other films have had. The Young Messiah also had a flashback to the Nativity, but was more of a post-Christmas film.
Actually, given that the historical Antipater was executed by Herod shortly before Herod died, I wonder sometimes if this film will show Herod killing Antipater instead of the babies in Bethlehem. Audiences might find that easier to digest—who knows?