Messiah (American TV series)

Messiah  is an American thriller web television series created by Michael Petroni. The first season consists of ten episodes, which were released on Netflix on January 1, 2020. The series stars Mehdi Dehbi, Tomer Sisley, Michelle Monaghan, John Ortiz, Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landoulsi, and Wil Traval.

Premise
The series focuses on the modern world's reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East, whose followers claim him to be the eschatological return of 'Isa (Jesus). His sudden appearance and apparent miracles spark a growing international following, casting doubts around who he really is, a case investigated by a CIA officer.

Cast

Main
 Mehdi Dehbi as Al-Masih
 Tomer Sisley as Aviram Dahan
 Michelle Monaghan as CIA Case Officer Eva Geller
 John Ortiz as Felix Iguero
 Melinda Page Hamilton as Anna Iguero
 Stefania LaVie Owen as Rebecca Iguero
 Jane Adams as Miriam Keneally
 Sayyid El Alami as Jibril Medina
 Fares Landoulsi as Samir
 Wil Traval as Will Mathers

Recurring
 Philip Baker Hall as Kelman Katz
 Beau Bridges as Edmund DeGuilles
 Hugo Armstrong as Ruben
 Barbara Eve Harris as Katherin
 Nimrod Hochenberg as Israel
 Emily Kinney as Staci Kirmani
 Jackson Hurst as Jonah Kirmani
 Nicole Rose Scimeca as Raeah Kirmani
 Ori Pfeffer as Alon
  Rona-Lee Shim'on as Mika Dahan
 Kenneth Miller as Larry
 Assad Bouab as Qamar Maloof
Dermot Mulroney as President John Young

Episodes

Production

Development
On November 17, 2017, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was created by Michael Petroni who is also credited as an executive producer and lead showrunner of the series. Additional executive producers include Andrew Deane, James McTeigue, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. Production companies involved with the series include Industry Entertainment and LightWorkers Media.

Casting
In January 2018, it was announced that John Ortiz, Tomer Sisley and Mehdi Dehbi would star in the series. In May 2018, it was announced that Michelle Monaghan had been cast in a starring role. In June 2018, it was reported that Melinda Page Hamilton, Stefania LaVie Owen, Jane Adams, Sayyid El Alami, Fares Landoulsi and Wil Traval had joined the main cast. In the same month, it was announced that Beau Bridges and Philip Baker Hall had joined the cast in a recurring capacity.

Filming
Principal photography for the first season took place in Amman, Jordan; Albuquerque, Mountainair, Estancia, Belen, Santa Fe and Clines Corners, New Mexico from June 2018 to August 2018.

Release
The first season was released on January 1, 2020.

Marketing
On December 3, 2019, the official trailer for the series was released by Netflix.

Reception

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 43% approval rating for the first season, based on 23 reviews. The website's critical consensus states, "A promising premise and superb ensemble can't save Messiah from its own bland storytelling."

Controversy
The trailer received negative reception from some Muslim audiences. In December 2019, it was announced in a press conference that The Royal Film Commission of Jordan requested Netflix to refrain streaming Messiah in the country due to the provocative subject matter and controversial religious content covered in the series.

References

External links
  (Official site)
 

Category:2020 American television series debuts
Category:American action television series
Category:Central Intelligence Agency in fiction
Category:English-language television programs
Category:Fictional depictions of the Antichrist
Category:Netflix original programming
Category:Serial drama television series
Category:Suspense television series
Category:Television controversies in the United States
Category:Television series by MGM Television
Category:Thriller television series
Category:Thriller web series