Why a major biblical film cut its Satan scenes before the theatrical release

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2014 epic Son of God brought the life of Jesus to the big screen, but it arrived with a notable omission. Producers removed all footage featuring the character of Satan after public comparisons emerged between the actor and the sitting United States President, sparking a controversy that defined its debut.

Released in February 2014, Son of God was adapted from the television miniseries The Bible. While the film utilized existing footage from the broadcast, it also incorporated new scenes not seen on television. However, the production team made a deliberate choice to exclude the character of Satan, portrayed by Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni. This decision followed claims that the actor’s appearance bore a resemblance to President Barack Obama, a connection first highlighted by commentator Glenn Beck. Casting director Carl Proctor maintained that any similarity was entirely coincidental.

The film, which stars Diogo Morgado as Jesus, follows a traditional narrative arc from the nativity through the crucifixion and resurrection. Despite receiving generally unfavorable reviews from critics—with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 17% approval rating and Metacritic assigning a score of 37 out of 100—it found a receptive audience. CinemaScore polls indicated that viewers gave the production an average grade of A-.

Financially, the project proved successful. Produced on a budget of $22 million, it grossed a worldwide total of $70.9 million. The film’s opening weekend performance was bolstered by significant advance ticket sales, bringing in $26.5 million. While some reviewers, such as Ben Kenigsberg, criticized the film for its uneven dramatic impact and reliance on conventional storytelling, others like Nell Minow noted that it functioned effectively as a moving, if superficial, cinematic lesson for believers. The film was ultimately recognized with a Grace Award at the 2014 MovieGuide ceremony.

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