Grammy Winner Seal Will Play Pontius Pilate in Fox's Live Telecast of Biblical Musical The Passion

"Killer" casting! Seal will take on the role of Pontius Pilate on Fox’s next live musical event, The Passion. The singer will join the previously reported country music icon Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Perry and more in the two-hour telecast, which will air from New Orleans on Palm Sunday, March 20.

Seal's worldwide album sales exceed 30 million; his breakthrough hit was Adamski's 1991 club hit, “Killer,” followed by his own Top 10 hit, “Crazy.” Later work includes the Grammy-winning “Kiss From a Rose.”

The Passion, written by Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical), tells the 2000-year-old story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through a variety of popular music. Set in modern day, the event will follow the story of Jesus of Nazareth, as he presides over the Last Supper, and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate, convicted, crucified and resurrected. As Mary follows her son into Jerusalem, she already has witnessed Jesus struggle with opposition from other religious leaders, but bolsters him with the boundless depth of a mother’s love. Peter, meanwhile, remains one of Jesus’ closest confidantes, but his loyalty will be sternly tested.

The event will unfold live at some of New Orleans’ most iconic locations, while featuring a procession of hundreds of people carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from outside the Superdome to the live stage at Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Along with Yearwood as Mary and Perry as the host/narrator, the cast will include Prince Royce as Peter, Jencarlos Canela as Jesus Christ and Chris Daughtry as Judas.