The original press release from KirchMedia can be found here

One of television history’s most ambitious projects is coming to a close. Shooting began in Morocco on Monday (September 24) for 'The Bible’s' final installment, 'The Apocalypse' (90’), inspired by the Book of Revelation. Raffaele Mertes (The Bible – Esther) will direct the international cast featuring Richard Harris (‘Gladiator’, ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’), Benjamin Sadler (‘The Sands of Time’, ‘Mary Magdalene’), Christian Kohlund (‘Sun on the Stubble’) and Vittoria Belvedere (‘The Return of Sandokan’). Set in 90 A.D., the € seven million KirchMedia and Partners’ production, unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of Emperor Dominitianus’s (Bruce Payne) virulent persecution of the Christians in Asia Minor.Held captive by the Romans on the island of Patmos, the aged apostle John struggles to save Christianity from extinction. During his captivity, John has apocalyptical visions about the horror of the earthly existence but also about the grandness of Heaven and the redemption through faith. The young Christian Irene gains access to the prison camp with the help of her brother Jonicus. John trusts her, and confides in her under the seal of secrecy. He gives her the transcripts of his visions, which she passes on to the frightened Christian communities. After several dangerous escape attempts, John and his followers are condemned to death. But they are saved at the last minute by the sudden death of the Emperor Domitian. The new Emperor gives the Christians amnesty and their horrible persecution is finally over.The world-renowned Irish star Richard Harris will portray the Apostle John. The popular German actor, Benjamin Sadler, will play Valerius, the young Roman soldier sent to Patmos to work as an informer for the Romans who will then fall in love with the young Christian Irene. Christian Kohlund will depict the ruthless Roman general, Valerius’ stepfather Quintus. Harris and Kohlund both played in ‘Abraham’, the second episode of the Bible cycle. Rafaelle Mertes, the Italian director and co-writer of the script, directed ‘The Bible – Esther’ in 1998 and was cameraman in eight further episodes of the Bible cycle.With 21 TV movies produced over nine years, sold to more than 67 countries worldwide, produced with a total budget of more than € 100 million, shot in specially built sets in the Moroccan desert, filmed by fantastic directors, nominated seven times and once awarded with the TV-Oscar, this is truly a project of superlatives. World-renowned stars such as Ben Kingsley, Elizabeth Hurley, Dennis Hopper, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Jeremy Sisto, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Jacqueline Bisset, Gary Oldman and Franco Nero contributed to the exceptional success of this major endeavor. The episodes of the Bible have to date reached top ratings worldwide with more than 40% market share in Spain, Italy, Austria and Germany.The Apocalypse is produced by LUX VIDE, KirchMedia and Quinta in co-operation with RAI, FRANCE 2, Antena 3, TM, Czech TV, NCRV, BskyB and ARD / Degeto.