'Killing Jesus' Debuts On NatGeo, Breaks Ratings Record

National Geographic's adaptation of Bill O-Reilly book Killing Jesus recently debuted to record-breaking 3.7 million viewers. The telecast would be all-time highest rated telecast.

Killing Jesus was aired as a three-hour special which chronicled the events leading up to death of the Jesus Christ.

The book was released in September 2013 and till now it has sold more than 6.8 million copies.

The Guardian's Selina O'Grady called Killing Jesus "a breathy retelling of the gospel stories by two conservative Catholics, one of whom, O'Reilly, believes that he was inspired to write the book by the Holy Ghost."

The telecast will re-air on Good Friday ( April 3) and again on Easter Sunday (April 5).

The book has been written by Fox News Channel star O'Reilly with Martin Dugard. The earlier two books, Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln were also adapted by NatGeo which remain one of the most watched programs in network's history.

Cast of Killing Jesus included Kelsey Grammer as King Herod the Great; Stephen Moyer as Pontius Pilate; Haaz Sleiman in the title role as Jesus; Rufus Sewell as Caiaphas; Emmanuelle Chriqui as Herodia; Eoin Macken as Antipas; and John Rhys Davies as Annas.