and we also have two great, great people, roma downey and mark burnett are with us. they have the big movie, "son of god" coming out. tonight is the premiere of another mark burnett produced show. >> also we have the gator boys, you love them. >> where else are you going to find that eclectic group of folks? >> right here. >> on nbc news. >> i'd like to start out saying i was right. >> about? >> i was right. okay. so, do you remember last week when "achy breaky heart" was made into a rap song. >> yes. >> i said, this song is going to be big. >> yes. >> well, i am confirmed right again. the billboard charts came out. it's number 11 on the rap chart. that's up against -- >> oh. >> no, they beat jay z and beyonce, part 2 on the run, and they beat drakes worst behavior. 11. let's listen to a little. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> we had to buzz out everything, but the point is, i was right. it's climbing. it's climbing the charts. >> something else has fallen down if you know what i mean. >> billy ray. >> no, i love billy ray. he's a sweetheart. i didn't like that song the first time around a

the movie's producer, roma downey and mark burnett created the movie.elcome. >> thank you. >> does he do survivor at home? >> oh, yeah, he has the kids doing all kinds of things in the pool. and we practice and have so much fun. >> i can't help it. it is my personality. >> so those crazy ideas on your "survivor" show, come from your mind? >> we're the test audience. i'm somebody who knows scuba diving, and i don't even like to swim. >> well, congratulations, that is a big step forward. >> let me ask both of you this. so you put together this miniseries for the history channel. blockbuster, huge, massive historic ratings for the channel. nothing ever higher. why? why do you think it was such a big success? >> clearly, the nation, hungry for god, who loves god. one nation under god. you know and a lot of media plays it as if americans don't love god. that is so not true. we have been to 30 cities in 40 days. churches are full. some churches are asking regular churchgoers to come on saturday nights to make room for all the new people they want to get in on

more with mark burnett and roma downey. we will have more preview clips from the movie "the son of god." i have a cold with this annoying runny nose. [ sniffles ] i better take something. [ male announcer ] dayquil cold and flu doesn't treat all that. it doesn't? [ male anner ] alka-seltzer plus fights your worst cold symptoms plus has a fast-acting antihistamine. oh, what a relief it is! plus h♪s a fast-acting antihistamine. they lived ♪ they lived. ♪ they lived. ♪ (dad) we lived... thanks to our subaru. ♪ (announcer) love. it's what mas a subaru, a subaru. ♪ ♪ so you can have a getaway from what you know. so you can be surprised by what you n't. get o times the points on travel and dining at restaurants from chase sapphire preferred. so you can taste something that wakes up your soul. chase sapphire preferred. so you can. vituperati >> the people today, they called you king. they think you were a messiah. but you seem to ignore them. >> don't you want to be our king. >> who do you think i am? >> you are the son of god. >>

and joining us now we continue with the filmmakers, roma downey and mark burnett. e were times when i interviewed you, roma, you told me you felt you had signs or a feeling or belief that god was there while you were filming this and that you wanted this project to happen. remember that? >> yes, of course, i remember that. we prayed from the beginning of this project. we prayed that we would -- that we would be able to tell the story effectively, make those emotional connections. and tell the story truthfully. when we were on set, and we were about to shoot the crucifixion sequence, which is the most challenging of sequences, logistically, spiritually, emotionally, we asked everybody we knew to send prayers to get through this one. and we had a man on set to clear snakes and scorpions. and on any given day he cleared one or two snakes. and on the morning of the crucifixion, he had a bag and had been clearing more than 40 snakes from the foot of the cross. i think the symbolism of the snake was not lost on any of us. and we couldn't help but fear it was like a spirit

tonight the greatest story ever told brought to you by the power couple roma downey and mark burnett. their series "the bible" 13 million viewers. their new project is even bigger. >> it's encouraging that jesus is going to be back on the big screen. >> roma downey and mark burnett, their big screen dreams and their extraordinary romance. plus spike lee is mad as hell. >> we had the crystal bother mother [ mute ]. i broke that script in 1988. >> rosie perez and her amazing story. we begin with our big story. compelling, inspirational, powerful and intense. all those words apply to the new feature film "son of god." here's a moment from the film. >> my son. >> don't be afraid. everything is possible with god. >> "son of god" from em the people who brought you "the bible" the miniseries has the largest audience of any on cable and top selling miniseries on dvd. producers are five-time emmy winner mark burnett and his wife roma downey who stars in the movie as mary. welcome to both of you. what an amazing story this is. i went to see the movie the other day. i'd only seen about half the

i can't think of another word but phenomenal. [ music ] >> roma downey: as a mother, i would do anythingchild live a normal life. and i'm sure you would, too. but what if you couldn't do anything? what if you were totally helpless? that's the situation for hundreds and thousands of parents in developing countries whose children are born with cleft lip or cleft palate. in the united states, these deformities are corrected shortly after birth. but in many countries around the world, these children are left untreated and are shunned. [ music ] [ children's voices ] >> roma downey: i'm in le loi hospital. the volunteer operation smile medical team has come from all over the world to perform surgeries, and parents have brought their children here, hoping that they'll be selected.

you mentioned roma downey, they were big names and super talented. they decided it would be worth risking their career on something both financially and both their names, saying hey, i'm a christian in hollywood. >> wasn't that something with mel gibson, working on "the passion of the christ." he put his own money in at one point. >> i remember being in a trailer right on the set of the passion, and he said i put my money, my name on this, nobody wants to touch this. this is twas the giving of the controversy, he said guys, if we fail on this, if this doesn't succeed, if we allow people to stop this there will not be another major religious film for the next 60 years. >> the new film "noah" has been coming under criticism. the interview with "the hollywood reporter." said there is significant worry about the folks, calling them noisy. what does that mean? i understand there is a conflict and battle between those that want it to be pure to the biblical version. and those that maybe want to take some creative license? >> hey, you know, as long as it is

i can't think of another word but phenomenal. [ music ] >> roma downey: as a mother, i would do anythinglp my child live a normal life. and i'm sure you would, too. but what if you couldn't do anything? what if you were totally helpless? that's the situation for hundreds and thousands of parents in developing countries whose children are born with cleft lip or cleft palate. in the united states, these deformities are corrected shortly after birth. but in many countries around the world, these children are left untreated and are shunned. [ music ] [ children's voices ] >> roma downey: i'm in le loi hospital. the volunteer operation smile medical team has come from all

and roma downey and mark burnett will come and a performance by the fray.. you and i will get through this together. ♪

. >>> and the producers of the film "the son of god" mark burnett and roma downey will tell you why youto see it this weekend. it comes out tomorrow. >> your sins are for given my son. >> i thought only god could do that. >> what would be easier to say his sins are for given or to say he can get up and walk? ensureigh protein... fifty percent of your daily value of protein. low fat and five grams of sugars. [ major nutrition ] ensure. nutrin charge! . >>> time to take a look at what's happening around the country and across the globe. founder of greenpeace says there's no scientific proof that man is contributing to climate change. the former captain of cost concordia, now on board for the first time. francisco scott ini helping ship inspectors. >>> sensitive jobs after learning they committed crimes, sexual abuse, drunken driving. part of the new effort to reduce sexual assaults in the military. >>> just because march is approaching doesn't mean there's a quick transition to spring weather. in chicago, the windy city is more like freezing city. brutal cold made worse with snowstorms po

. >> reporter: actress roma downey and her husband, producer mark burnett, are the creative team behind of god." you may recognize her from the character she played in "touched by an angel." >> i put some muscle in it. >> reporter: as for mark burnett, you've seen his work. ♪ he pioneered the genre of reality tv. >> the ultimate human experiment. >> reporter: creating "survivor." his current hits also include "shark tank" and "the voice." last year burnett and downey switched gears, producing the miniseries "the bible" on the history channel. >> i will crush any rebellion. >> reporter: a sunday school epic that was wildly successful in its own right. >> i am coming soon. >> reporter: so much so that on twitter the hashtag hotjesus started trending. the bible was the number one miniseries of 2013, an audience that easily rivaled "breaking bad," "mad men," and "the walking dead." >> my favorite headline of the whole bible series was "god beats zombies." >> beat walking dead. yeah, our finale beat both "game of thrones" premiere and the "walking dead" finale. >> reporter: now the couple is

tonight the greatest story ever told brought to you by the power couple roma downey and mark burnett.illion viewers. their new project is even bigger. >> it's encouraging that jesus is going to be back on the big screen. >> roma downey and mark burnett, their big screen dreams and their extraordinary off-screen romance. plus spike lee is mad as hell. >> we had the crystal ball [ muted ]. i wrote that s

also the producers son of god mark burnett and roma downey join us.he winner of the daytona 500. dale ernhardt, jr. also. we have it right here on the channel for news fox news channel. : >>> a man in utah killed in a paratkpwhraoeugd -- gliding accident. police say the man had a mishap in the air. he was part of a group in fair field. his identity not released. >>> he battles in the ring and is now battling cancer. former w.w.e. wrestler jake the snake roberts announcing he's undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor behind his knee but plans on returning to the ring on march 14 cancer or not. roberts got the nickname the snake by taking pythons and cobras into the ring with limb. -- with him. >>> a teenager in texas is going above and beyond the typical high school project. 16-year-old kelsey maer bought a house and turning it into a free family crisis center. >> the community need something like this. i hear a lot of people tell me it's going to be hard but i think i can do it. it's going to be worth it because it will help a whole lot of peop

it is produced by mark burnett and roma downey. touched by the angel series. i had a chance to talk to them. they call themselves the noisiest christians in hollywood. >> we are so excited. we have been working on this for a number of years. it doesn't feel like work. it has been a passion to do what we love to do and to combine it with what we believe and to get to do it together. "son of god" finally on the big screen. >> do you realize that pastors are renting out entire theaters so they can bring their con gre dpag dpa gagss to see this movie together. >> it really is a movement. not only are they taking out theaters. in some cases, every single screen in a megaplex, "son of god," "son of god," "son of god." let's face it, it is one nation under god. it is a nation built pretty much on the bible. it makes sense. also, it has been 50 years since jesus life was on the big movie screen, which was the greatest story of all. so this is the new jesus movie for the new generation, 2014. >> how difficult was it to find the right actor,

. >>> we want to turn to the latest biblical blockbuster from mark burnett and roma downey.sus at a time where hollywood is ripe for religious stories. our david wright took us behind the scenes. >> are you the son of god? >> i am. >> blasphemer! >> reporter: it's not a remake. but a resurrection. >> his name is jesus. >> reporter: a biblical blo blockbuster like we haven't seen in years. >> jesus hasn't been on the big screen in ten years. >> reporter: "son of god" due out at the end of the month. is the first of several big bible movies in the works. hollywood has rediscovered religion. why is that? >> i'm sure the bible series. >> reporter: the bible miniseries led to a revival last year. what led you to believe there needed to be a new version? >> it's a calling. here's a movie that speaks to the people that attend church. but also, i think, a movie that is there for people that don't go to church. >> it's a love story, at its essence. >> reporter: mark burnett coproduced the miniseries and the movie, along with his wife, actress roma downey. downey, best known as the st

tonight the greatest story ever told brought to you by the power couple roma downey and mark burnett.lion viewers. their new project is

joining me are the producers of "son of god," mark burnett and roma downey. than $4 million in advanced ticket sales. tell people, why should they go see this film if they've already seen the miniseries. >> this starts with john looking back and establishing this awful tyranny of roman rule. this is a political thriller. it has special effects from the gladiator and it's a big, big feature film that you can see in your community. it's great. >> roma, i have to ask. it must be the most difficult thing i think to play jesus but to play the mother of jesus i think would be a little daunting. how did you go about it? >> yeah. you know, i have loved jesus all my life but i've never really considered what it would be like to be his mother before, what she must have been feeling watching her son die in such a way. i'm a mother myself. so all i needed to do was bring a mother's heart to feel as a mother, to see through a mother's eyes. >> roma, the narrative structure of the film takes out the temptation of christ from the film the miniseries was criticized by some b

remember last year roma downey and her husband produced a series for the history channel.t into a two-hour movie. elisabeth has seen it and said it's fantastic. but there was one thing about the mini series that was a big problem and that was the similarity some bloggers found to satan and the president of the united states. they felt that the actor who played satan looked a lot like the president. you know what? they took it out for the movie. here they are, roma downey and mark brunett. >> you took it out on purpose? >> absolutely. i wanted the devil on the cutting room floor. >> why? >> i felt that the conversation that ignited after that moment in the mini series served to be such a distraction. >> mark and roma are coming up at 8:20. they're going to explain firsthand more about that. it is truly a love story the film, whether you believe christ is the son of god or not, it is pretty interesting. they're going to answer some of our questions. send our questions if you have them to facebook. >> how many stars would you give the movie out of a four-star scale? >> i'm no

. >>> tomorrow on "cbs this morning," roma downey and mark burnett tell us how they turned their blockbuster told us how far christian leaders are going to get the word out. that's tomorrow. >>> all that mattered on this day in 1992, the teenager who took at swing and never looked ban. do you remember who it is? the answer's next on "cbs this morning." [ male announcer ] fact: the 100% electric nissan leaf... is more fun than ever. sees better than ever. ♪ charges faster. and will charge. cool. and heat. from your phone. fact: leaf never needs gas. ever. good for the world. built in america. now, leaf's an easier choice than ever. ♪ shop at choosenissan.com. ♪ >> the crowd was so loud. it was good to get a shot in and the applauding. >>> all that mattered, tiger woods. he made his amateur move on the pga. he was the youngest player to compete in a tour event. wood mi woods missed the shot by 16. he teed off this morning. >> how would you like to have a swing like that when you're 16? >> i'd love it. i'd love to have it at age 40. >> and at age ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, are >>> good morning, everyone, 8

. >> and roma downey and mark burnett give us a look at their my mother and my grandmother are very oldou guys should try this. it's so easy. oh, my. [ gasps ] i just washed this floor. if i didn't see it i wouldn't believe it. [ carmel ] it did my heart good to see you cleaning. [ regina ] yeah, your generation has all the good stuff. [ daughter ] oh, yeah. [ regunwrap your paradise.ration has all the good stuff. soft, sweet coconut covered in rich, creamy chocolate. . . . . . . that youthful glow? oh yeah. now you can get it back. from l'oreal the first ever facial oil: new age perfect glow renewal. nourishes deeply to restore skin's youthful glow. i got my glow back. mmm hmm... new l'oreal age perfect glow renewal. discover light & fit greek nonfat yogurt.eal pleasure? irresistible flavors, like toasted coconut and vanilla, with a delightfully thick creamy texture. light & fit greek. taste satisfaction without sacrifice. ♪ dannon ♪ see what's new at projectluna.com [ female announcer ] most of the time it's easy to know which option is better. other times, not so much. so it's good t

plus the star of the new film "son of god," actress roma downey. and applause] e

he came with roma downey to my house who plays his mother mary in the film as well, executive producernk she has the most beautiful speaking voice i'vive hea ever heard in my life. >> when you meet jesus who will be on today, you'll say to yourself, once you watch the film, there is no one else you can think of who can play jesus other than this guy. because he's outstanding. >> beautifully. >> let's talk about you. i moved dressing rooms. so now i'm cozied up next to kathie lee so we're never apart ever. okay. so then i walk downstairs and there was jeff goldblum -- >> whom we love. >> love. so he and kathie lee decided they were going to do a little singing. >> he wanted to sing. am i going to say no? >> i had the hot camera. so take a look at it. ♪ together we want to be ♪ >> maybe could have done the part where we sang very well. who edits this stuff? >> someone doesn't like us. that was a short clip. there was a long -- i shot forever. anyway, let's go to "the voice". >> let's go to the daily news and get that over with. >> you know when you open the paper and you say, whose mug s

. >> reporter: actress roma downey and her husband mark burnett are create tors of "son of god."rnett, you've seen his work. he pioneered the genre of reality tv. >> the ultimate human experiment. >> reporter: creating "survivor." >> tom not messing around! >> reporter: his current hits include "shark tank" and "the voice." last you're burnett and downey switched gears. >> follow me! >> reporter: producing the miniseries "the bible" on the history channel. >> i will crush any rebellion. >> reporter: a sunday school epic that was wildly successful in its own right. now the couple is hoping to parlay that success onto the big screen with "son of god". >> come with me. >> what are you going to do? >> change the world. >> this thing couldn't be further from reality tv. is this redemption for you? >> you know, we obviously have a lot of hit shows. without those other shows we probably wouldn't have gotten listened to and, therefore, we wouldn't be opening on 3,000 screens this movie "son of god" on february 28th. >> reporter: it's the first of several old-fashioned bible movies due ou

. >> reporter: produced by roma downey and her husband, it was shot in morocco. the story never gets tired. from jesus of nazareth. >> i'm the light of the world. >> to the recent hit miniseries the bible, son of god is actually edited from this footage. the producers say their message is love. steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta. >>> and up next right here tonight -- march madness. the basketball game that erupted into mayhem on the court, the call tonight to change the rules when i ces to celebrating a win, is a crackdown coming on the fans? we're back in two minutes. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial. my sinuses are acting up and i've got this runny nose. i better take something. truth is, sudafed pe pressure and pain won't treat all of your symptoms. really? alka seltzer plus severe sinus fights your tough sinus symptoms plus your runny nose. oh what a relief it is i'll believe it when i -- [ both ] oooooh... [ female announcer ] as you get older, protein is an important part of staying active and strong. ensure high protein.