Reports: Rob Bell Working on TV Show with Lost's Carlton Cuse | Christianity Today

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Christianity Today, September (Web-only), 2011

Reports: Rob Bell Working on TV Show with Lost's Carlton Cuse

The author of 'Love Wins' is working on a show loosely based on his life story, reports suggest.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey | posted 9/30/2011 09:55AM

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Rob Bell is reportedly working on a television drama called Stronger with Carlton Cuse, executive producer and screenwriter for the show Lost, according to New York magazine and Deadline.

New York's Vulture site reports that the show will be loosely based on Bell's life story as a musician and eventual founder of his church, Mars Hill Bible Church. The show will feature a musician named Tom Stronger who ends up becoming a benefactor and spiritual guide, the site reports. Josef Adalian writes:

While based on biblical principles, Bell's brand of spirituality is not about hard-core evangelical, fire-and-brimstone teachings. Instead, his goal is to service folks' spiritual needs without the overlay of religious dogma (see also: Oprah). Stronger is similarly expected to explore spiritual themes but without being as on-the-nose as other recent series that have tackled these issues, such as 7th Heaven and Touched by an Angel. There's also expected to be a narrative twist to the project that will make it a bit unconventional, but for now, that detail is being kept secret (this show is from a Lost-ie after all).

According to the magazine's sources Bell and Cuse met at one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people dinners. Deadline's similar report indicates that the duo will co-write and executive produce. "While spiritual, Stronger won't be supernatural. It will touch on the spiritual side of people's lives much like the final season of Lost did," the Deadline report says.

The author of controversial Love Wins announced last week that he would leave his church to move to Los Angeles and launch a tour. Shane Hipps will take over preaching at Mars Hill Bible Church in the spring after Bell leaves.

"There are two kinds of grief. One is the grief you feel when someone dies or you ﬁnd out you have cancer. The other is kind of grief you feel when your child goes off to college," Hipps said in a statement to Christianity Today. "The second grief is mingled with joy, and hope, and gratitude. Our grief is clearly the second kind. Rob is graduating, and we send him with sadness and joy into a big world."

Related Elsewhere:

CT covered the spiritual elements behind the show Lost.

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September (Web-only) 2011, Vol. 55

Comments (31)

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Displaying 1–5 of 31 comments

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Preson Phillips

October 07, 2011 3:30pm

Can't wait. Love Rob Bells work around the world, God has given him such a diverse ministry. Fundy's would have nothing to hate if guys like him didn't exist. After all, Gods people have always killed his prophets.

Matt

October 06, 2011 10:06pm

It's embarrassing to read these responses. Who cares what Bell is doing or not doing? The drudge you all post in the name of Christian judgement or moral authority is akin to anonymous scratches in a bathroom stall. It's all profane and cowardly. And really it's none of your business.

Jackson Baer

October 06, 2011 2:42pm

We will be known for our love for one another. Not our love for doctrine or the right belief but our love for one another. What is the greatest commandment? 1 John 2:2- He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 Timothy 4:10- This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

bob

October 06, 2011 8:29am

So, let me get this straight ... Rob Bell is leaving his flock to go to hollywood and become a movie star! That's just great .... glad to see he has his priorities!

Basil

October 05, 2011 12:15pm

It might be safe to say that much of Rob Bell's theology is based on his desire for societal approval. Let's face it, he is well aware of the fact that Evangelicals are not well liked and are pretty low on the social totem pole. The doctrine of hell and the exclusivity of salvation through Christ are the biggest barriers to social acceptance. Although I am not a prophet or a son of a prophet or out to make a profit I can safely assume that he is gradually parting company with his Evangelical past and evolving into a kind of contemporary liberal.

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