Kristen Bell, Brian Cox Say 2010 Audio Has Been Repurposed for Fox News Podcast Without Their Knowledge

Kristen Bell and Brian Cox were among a string of actors who were recently announced to be voicing Biblical figures in Fox News Audio’s The Life of Jesus Podcast, though they were unaware prior to Wednesday’s announcement of the podcast that they were involved with the project.

The podcast’s voice cast also includes Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davies and Julia Ormond.

A representative for Cox told The Hollywood Reporter, “Brian recorded audio for a project over a decade ago. He was unaware that the audio would be repurposed for a new podcast series in 2025. Brian only became aware of the podcast yesterday.”

Bell’s reps similarly told Rolling Stone that their client was surprised by the announcement that audio she had recorded in 2010 for the New Testament audiobook The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible would be used for the Life of Jesus podcast. Her rep told Rolling Stone that she only learned of the Fox audio acquisition when her team received a request for her to appear on Fox & Friends a day before the podcast was announced. Bell’s rep says she never gave permission for the audiobook to be repurposed into the new series.

In a statement, a rep for Fox News Media said, “Gulfstream Studios produced the Life of Jesus Podcast from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by Fox News Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved.”

THR has reached out to Astin’s reps for comment. 

Bell voices Mary Magdalene, while Astin portrays Matthew, McDonough voices Jesus, Cox serves as the voice of God, McDowell voices Caiaphas, Rhys-Davies is the narrator, and Ormond voices Mary Mother of God. 

The first 13 episodes of The Life of Jesus Podcast will be released on Nov. 30, followed by three additional drops of 13 episodes on Dec. 21, Feb. 15 and March 29.