What if ancient sources weren’t telling us stories that happened ... but rather stories that were going to happen? That question drove writer, producer, and director Randy McKinnon (of Invasion renown) to reimagine the most famous story ever told, and to flesh out the details of the Virgin Mary’s story as a woman of color in a contemporary supernatural thriller. An unprecedented cast of A-list talent—including Kerry Washington, Daniel Dae Kim, David Oyelowo, Asa Butterfield, and Laurence Fishburne—bring The Prophecy to life as one of the most ambitious and immersive pieces of audio storytelling to date. McKinnon spoke to Audible about how the project came to life.
Audible: The Prophecy is based on the premise that the Bible wasn’t telling us stories that happened but rather events that were going to happen. Where did that idea come from, and why did you decide to tell the story through the character of Virginia?
Randy McKinnon: The idea originated from my passion for stories from the Bible. Three of my favorites growing up were Jonah and the whale, Daniel in the lions' den, and the story of the Virgin Mary. Then, one afternoon, I saw a crazy news headline online that was followed by the comment: “It must be the end of times.” I remember thinking, “What if it was actually the beginning?” And my mind was off to the races.
Under this new premise, the Biblical stories took on an entirely different form for me, especially when looking at the Virgin Mary. When you imagine the drama surrounding a woman claiming to be pregnant through Immaculate Conception, while married to a prominent government official, the conflict was inherent from the onset. But I realized it still needed an emotional through-line that made it a story worth retelling, and it wasn’t until I imagined Mary as a Black woman that the nucleus of the series formed. To imagine that the fate of the world rested on the shoulders of a woman of color felt like the most honest and deserving way to warrant a contemporary reimagining of this story. So I took all of these elements and then buried it under a genre twist to find an original way into such timely themes and subject matter.
What was the most satisfying part of the story to tell for you, personally? What details gave you joy to fill in?
There were so many satisfying moments of telling this story for me, but there were at least three that stuck out of the pack. I have to say, it was a joy writing the lions sequence for Daniel. I always felt that the Bible perfectly captured Daniel’s storyline before he was tossed in with the lions and after he made it out safely—but growing up, my mind always imagined the second act of his story inside the den, wondering what an experience like that would feel like. The same with Jonah’s encounter with the whale—it was such a beautifully challenging experience to re-create the moments after being swallowed whole by one of the largest creatures in the sea. And I have to say, filling in the details of Mary’s Immaculate Conception in the present day was a highlight for me as a creative. I worked side by side with Kerry and many women on the team to ensure that every experience felt nuanced and true to the characterization of pregnancy and womanhood.
Did you have any hesitation about reinventing the most famous story in the world?
I had extreme hesitation to tackle the material because I come from a religious family, so I understand the high regard that people hold the Bible in. It's the text I’ve read the most in my lifetime, so there’s an inherent intimidation that comes with tackling something like this. I wanted to make sure that I was extremely respectful and intentional with my words and storylines. Credit also has to be given to my partners, as it was both comforting and rewarding to see how many people were equally sensitive and respectful to the way the story was being represented. I knew that if we stayed true to the process, we could stand proud knowing we told these stories with truth and integrity. That gave me the ultimate confidence in my writing and direction.
How did it feel to hear your story come to life through performance?
Kerry Washington, David Oyelowo, Laurence Fishburne, Daniel Dae Kim, Asa Butterfield— those are not typos! And that’s just five of 85 more talented voices that came together to bring this story to life. I consider myself extremely spoiled to have worked with these mavericks of their craft. Our casting director took on a tough challenge and succeeded in orchestrating this large dance I invited everyone to, but I have to single out praise to my producer and friend Brian Kavanaugh Jones for first saying yes to this ambitious idea. And to Kerry Washington, who believed in me and this project enough to not only lend her voice and trust in a young filmmaker but to throw on her seasoned producer hat as well, helping influence the development and prestige casting of my passion project.
What do you want listeners to take away with them from the experience of listening to The Prophecy?
We wanted The Prophecy to be for ALL audiences, no matter what side of the religious spectrum you fall on. And what I’m most proud of is that my collaborators, both believers and non-believers, all found their own way into connecting with the show. Humanity was our North Star. If you believe in the human experience, this story is for you. If you don’t, it’s especially for you. This is a story about hope, and believing that we can unite together in dark times. I’m both extremely proud and excited for the Audible global audience to experience these re-tellings, as they're truly thrilling, unexpected, and original. We hope you enjoy!
All episodes of the Audible Original podcast The Prophecy are available now.
