Ewan McGregor Believes Christians Won't Have a Problem with Portrayal of Jesus and Satan as Critics Praise Interpretation

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Jan 29, 2015

Ewan McGregor Believes Christians Won't Have a Problem with Portrayal of Jesus and Satan as Critics Praise Interpretation

Ewan McGregor has taken on the role of both Jesus and Satan in Rodrigo Garcia’s Last Days in the Desert. The film focuses on the 40 days and nights that Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, as Satan pushed to keep Jesus from sacrificing himself to save humankind. 

Yahoo News reportedly interviewed McGregor about the dual role and asked if he thought Christians would have a problem with his portrayal of Jesus and Satan. 

McGregor said, "I can't imagine any issue with it, because there's never a moment that he's uncertain of his faith. I played him as the son of God and a man who is in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights to meditate on his path, the path ahead of him, which is to go out and preach and dedicate his life, ultimately and completely, to spreading the word of God, his father.” 

The film, which was released at the Sundance Festival, has gained positive reviews from several critics. 

ScreenDaily said that the film was "a powerfully meditative experience that grapples with themes of faith, destiny, death, and fathers and sons, Last Days In The Desert possesses the attributes that have been the hallmark of writer-director Rodrigo García's best films: It's emotionally uncluttered while being narratively ambitious."

The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "McGregor (the latest in a line of cinematic blue-eyed Jesuses) impressively handles the role of this solitary seeker; he's entirely credible as a man who's grave, searching and a tad bewildered at not having found the help he expected, but he's neither overbearingly brooding nor excessively humble. He's still looking for the answers."

Christian Today reports that director Garcia was raised a devout Catholic and the film was influenced from his upbringing. 

Publication date: January 29, 2015



Ewan McGregor Believes Christians Won't Have a Problem with Portrayal of Jesus and Satan as Critics Praise Interpretation