Oscar Isaac—actor, Dune star and former Christian ska band member (yes, really)—is opening up about why he took on the role of Jesus in the upcoming animated film The King of Kings.
In a newly released behind-the-scenes clip, Isaac shares his approach to portraying Christ, emphasizing the importance of capturing not just his divinity, but his humor.
“When we started working on the character of Jesus and what he would sound like, there was a lot of room to try to connect it to his humor,” Isaac explains. While Jesus is often depicted with solemnity, Isaac saw an opportunity to highlight his warmth and humanity.
He also viewed the project as a chance to introduce a new generation to Jesus’ message. “The things that he represents—inner strength, that the Kingdom of Heaven is here already—that kind of energy is one that I was excited to incorporate into the story,” he says.
The film, an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ The Life of Our Lord, follows the Dickens family—voiced by Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman and Jojo Rabbit’s Roman Griffin Davis—as they vividly imagine the life of Jesus. Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker joins the cast as Peter.
The King of Kings premieres in theaters April 11, 2025.
