Actress Kristen Bell discovered she has a prominent role in Fox News Media’s newest faith-based podcast series through an unexpected announcement, rather than through official channels. The Nobody Wants This star voices Mary Magdalene in The Life of Jesus podcast, but she had no clue about the project until one day before its public unveiling.
Representatives for Bell confirmed to TheWrap that she was blindsided by Wednesday’s announcement of the podcast, learning about it only when her team received a request for her to appear on Fox & Friends. The revelation has sparked questions about the repurposing of audio recordings from more than a decade ago.
The 52-episode podcast series launches November 30 as part of Fox Faith, the network’s religious programming vertical. Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt will introduce each 30-minute episode, guiding listeners through the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ. The ambitious project features over 100 notable actors voicing biblical characters, including Brian Cox as the Voice of God, Sean Astin as Matthew, and Neal McDonough as Jesus.
However, the star-studded cast comes with a significant caveat. Bell originally voiced Mary Magdalene in 2010 for The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, a New Testament audiobook. The audio from this 15-year-old project has been licensed and repurposed for the Fox podcast without prior notification to several performers involved.
Bell’s representative told Rolling Stone that she never gave permission for the old audiobook to be repurposed into a new podcast series. The actress’s team is now examining the legal implications of using her voice recordings for this new production. Similarly, a representative for Brian Cox stated that he “recorded audio for a project over a decade ago” and “was unaware that the audio would be repurposed for a new podcast series in 2025”.
Meanwhile, Fox News maintains a different perspective on the arrangement. A Fox News spokesperson stated that “Gulfstream Studios produced the Life of Jesus Podcast from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by FOX News Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved”.
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The podcast will be released in four batches aligned with the Christian calendar. The first 13 episodes debut November 30 to coincide with Advent, followed by another 13 episodes on December 21 during the Christmas season. Additional batches will launch during Lent and Palm Sunday in 2026, making the content available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms.
The controversy highlights the complex nature of media licensing agreements and raises questions about artist consent when legacy recordings are adapted for new projects. As Bell’s team investigates the legality of the situation, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency in content distribution, particularly when using celebrity voices for promotional purposes.