Satan has had his scenes cut from a big screen version of hit mini-series The Bible after rumours spread over his likeness to Barack Obama. Makers of History Channel show have left "the devil on the cutting room floor" for the 20th Century Fox's 'Son of God'.
Photographs of the show's Satan - played by veteran Moroccan actor Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni - went viral after the debut screening in March 2013. Commentators and pranksters mocked the likeness shared between Ouazanni and the President of the United States. In response to the accusations that spread on social media like wildfire from a burning bush, the makers hit back and said it was a "false connection". But in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, producer Roma Downey said the comments made had overshadowed the TV show's religious message. She said: "Someone made a comment that the actor who played the devil vaguely resembled our president, and suddenly the media went nuts. "The next day, when I was sure everyone would only be talking about Jesus, they were talking about Satan instead."
For the re-imagined Son of God, which will be released in the UK on March 5, Downey said she wanted "all of the focus" to be on Jesus Christ. The producer added: "I want his name to be on the lips of everyone who sees this movie, so we cast Satan out. "It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the devil is on the cutting-room floor." The 10 part miniseries The Bible was a smash-hit in the US and attracted an average of 11 million viewers.
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