Die Passion

Die Passion is a musical drama that reimagines the final days of Jesus of Nazareth using contemporary pop songs. The story follows Jesus as he arrives in a city with his companions and shares ideas that inspire the public. By supporting marginalized groups and challenging the established social hierarchy, he draws the ire of political and religious authorities. The plot explores themes of love, betrayal, and murder.

This television movie was a co-production between Germany, the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles, involving RTL, Constantin Entertainment, and Mediawater. It was directed by David Grifhorst and Ladislaus Kiraly. For Ladislaus Kiraly, this production preceded Die Helene Fischer Show 2024 and Tödliches Spiel - Das Krimi-Dinner. The film features a cast of 27 credited performers, including Ben as Jesus, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht as Judas, Timur Ülker as Petrus, Nadja Benaissa as Maria, and Francis Fulton-Smith as Pontius Pilatus. Hannes Jaenicke appears as the narrator. The production was staged as a live event in Kassel. With a runtime of 106 minutes, the film blends elements of history, music, and comedy.