Salt Lake hosts sneak preview of 'Son of God' movie

Intermountain Catholic

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Author Richard Paul Evans (right) congratulates Roma Downey on the 'Son of God' film following its viewing. IC photo/Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Powerful." "Fantastic." "Beautifully done," is how religious leaders and friends of actress Roma Downey described the movie Son of God, shown to a sneak preview audience at Megaplex 13 at Gateway in Salt Lake City Nov. 23.

A "labor of love" is what Downey and her husband, producer Mark Burnett, are calling their new movie, which will be released in theaters nationwide Feb. 28. Downey plays the role of Mary, Jesus’ mother, in the movie.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., is quoted as saying, "The Son of God is an engaging and compelling presentation of the story of Jesus, the Son of God among us. It is a joy to watch this film bring alive the pages of the gospel and help us see what those who lived at the time of Jesus experienced."

Many will remember Downey as the angel Monica from the television series Touched by an Angel, which was filmed in Salt Lake City from 1994-2003. Burnett, who is Catholic, is known for producing The Voice, Survivor, and The Apprentice.

Together they produced Son of God and The Bible, a best-selling television miniseries, through their company, LightWorkers Media.

Filming Touched by an Angel was a ministry for Downey, she said. "It was a privilege to be part of the message going out into the world that there is a God," she said. "When the series ended, it was part of my daily prayer for the years in between, wondering how I could be used again, and God placed the idea to do The Bible series as a whisper in my heart. My husband and I decided to do The Bible together, and now we are thrilled that Jesus will be back on the big screen in Son of God. He hasn’t been there in a film for a decade since The Passion, and his life hasn’t been presented on the big screen for about 50 years since The Greatest Story Ever Told."

Downey and Burnett see the excitement in telling the story of the gospel to a new generation to start a conversation "because with a film opening it puts Jesus back in the everyday water-cooler discussions and it is so much easier to ask someone to go to the movie than it is to ask someone to go to church with you," Downey said. "It’s a great introduction for those who don’t know the story of Jesus."

While filming Son of God in Morocco, a snakeman would clear the location of one or two snakes and scorpions, but while filming the crucifixion sequence, he cleared 48 snakes from around the foot of the cross, said Downey.

"So as we go forward with this project, we ask for your prayers that there will be a spiritual clearing of all the snakes that might be ahead," said Downey.

Among those who attended the screening were Abbey Smiley and her sister, Jane, who were brought to tears by the crucifixion scene, they said.

"The movie was so spiritual," said Abbey Smiley.

"The movie has a powerful message," said Helen Flom, who came from Provo for the sneak preview.