As expected, NBC has decided not to move forward with a second season of AD: The Bible Continues. The 12 episode mini-series wrapped on June 21st and has now been cancelled.
Produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, AD: The Bible Continues tells the tale of the later chapters of biblical history (following the Crucifixion of Christ). It focuses on the disciples who had to go forward and spread the teachings of Jesus Christ to a world dominated by political unrest. The cast includes Juan Pablo Di Pace, Adam Levy, Richard Coyle, Vincent Regan, Greta Scacchi, Babou Ceesay, Chipo Chung, Emmett J. Scanlan, Jodhi May, Joanne Whalley, Ken Bones, Kevin Doyle, Helen Daniels, and Fraser Ayers.
The series debuted on April 5th to a respectable 2.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.68 million viewers. Unfortunately, the ratings saw severe drops in the weeks that followed. The finale hit a series low with a 0.7 demo and 3.56 million.
Though NBC doesn’t want a second season, the story isn’t over. Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have said that their writers have been working on scripting season two for some time.
Now that NBC has cancelled the show, the producers see it as a tentpole for the launch of OTT. They have been working on the online channel since partnering with MGM to form United Artists Media Group last fall. The online channel is envisioned as a base for faith and religion-based content but won’t be launched until 2016 or 2017.
The castmembers of AD are being released from their contracts because the next incarnation won’t be filmed for awhile. As a result, there may be some recasting when production resumes.
What do you think? Should NBC have cancelled this show? Will you watch the next season online when it becomes available or prefer to watch on DVDs. Would you pay to watch this kind of programming?
I loved this show, it’s content and casting was superb. I am so very disappointed that the show has been cancelled by NBC. Il [k forward to it continuation online.Thank ypu for bringing the Bible to life this show was both dramatic and inspiring.
Disappointment is an understatement. The series was excellent. The characters were great as well. The reason this show dropped off is because each episode is too short. Too many commercials. The series itself was excellent and I feel that a full hour of the show would have moved things along more and kept those who dropped off more interested. Don’t make this a losing proposition. Sell this on DVD and complete the series. It’s a hit!
I am disappointed that NBC has chosen not to continue the series. It is spectacular. I’m a lifelong Christian who thought I knew the Bible well. Yet I found this helped me oto understand the history of the church and my faith so much more. I will pray that the series will continue using online media.
My husband loves lives lives this show please continue series
I am very disappointed that the series was cancelled. I watched every episode and was anxiously awaiting the next season. I am disappointed that the ratings weren’t higher. I hope the series is picked up by someone else because I will definitely watch.
I am so very, very sad that this show got cancelled. I taped it every Sunday and really looked forward to watching it every week.
I am very disappointed I hate how it was pulled it is wrong I was looking into seeing it… oh well read the bible the true story is there
Yes, Ariel, the Bible has the whole story, but, even with the errors, the show was fascinating to watch. Humans are a visual people. We like to see events in action. I think that’s why The Passion on the Christ was so popular. Even with the graphic violence it depicted, it made the story so much more understandable. A.D. had it’s troubles with some aspects of the story, such as Ananias and Sapphira. In the Bible, their lie was exposed immediately, not some time later. It’s best to “read the book first” before seeing the “movie version”, they always take… Read more »
The visualization of that story just showed how ridiculous that story is to me. I was laughing while watching it. It’s a ridiculous thing to kill someone for, they were just being cautious with their money, they didn’t know whether it was the true religion or not. You may rationalize this away, but think of all the horrible things people have done in the Bible which God did not immediately kill them for. And whatever happened to the forgiveness that Jesus preached? The writing of this story is so obviously different than what Jesus taught, it was obviously a different… Read more »
It doesn’t surprise me that NBC cancelled this show because I realize that ratings are important as the advertisers invest a great deal of money. It also doesn’t surprise me that the ratings were very good in the Easter season and a few weeks beyond because just like New Years resolutions people lose resolve. What surprises me are the Christian, “Christ Followers” who stopped watching the show. I know that there are more the 3.5 million professed Christians who should have chosen to continue to watch on Sunday nights as the show was Biblical and educational. How about the ones… Read more »
Shame on U NBC something good U cancel Hannible or however U spell it evil U keep !
I am very sadden by NBC taking AD the Bible
Continue series off the air. I loved this show being a firm believer in Jesus Christ I am totally disappointed that it was removed even if it was only one viewer, that meant that just one was interested in hearing about our lord Jesus Christ, but unfortunately we are in a world of sin were people would much rather watch the bachelor/ bachelorette kissing 10 different guys because they can’t find love REALLY? Totally disappointed in NBCs decision. Shame on you Carol Seidita
John 8:7: So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, **He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone** at her.
Jesus said to not judge others, as only God can judge. I see you have learned nothing from the show you profess to like and religion you profess to believe in.
Please DO NOT CANCEL this show, it is OSCAR WINNING material for television .. in all categories, I never missed a show. What ever made you even think of canceling, there are many that should be canceled but…………….not this SPECTACULAR one!!!
I really wish they would reconsider. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show and it was very inspirational. The actors were amazing and very believable. (chanting) Briiiing it back briiiiiing it back!!!
My family watched it every week! So sad to see it’s not being renewed! Really hoping it is continued elsewhere…
I watched every episode of this series and enjoyed the history, the actors, the costumes and story line. It is sad that NBC decided to cancel, what I believe to be the best show that aired on TV. My prayer is that they reconsider and my advice is that they promote the series more than this year. There were a lot of viewer comments that mentioned they were unaware that the show was a continuation. So more promo please, and please bring this magnificent series back. Thank you!
This was a great show! The ratings don’t portray the real value of this type of programming. I hope that someone with better insight and programming analysis picks it up. It was a really good presentation of Biblical truths and stories. Modern secular programming and people who want to see gore and violence don’t know what they are missing.
NBC stands for; Nothing but Crazy, for canceling this show.
I do hope another channel picks this up. This is the first show I have watched on NBC in a long time. They don’t know a good thing when they have it.
Even as an atheist I watched this show. The Old Testament had a wicked and disgusting War God, and the New Testament is sexist, but the show still had a good story, and I love historical movies, what an interesting time period.