Jesus Christ Superstar/Trivia


 * Dawson Casting: Ted Neeley, you're 80 now -- well over twice Jesus' age. Maybe it's time to stop dying for hours on end in a thong? Let someone else play Jesus in all those touring companies.
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: In the 1973 film, the Apostle Peter is played by legendary porn star/adult film director Paul Thomas (under the name "Philip Toubus"), before the man's dive into the pornography business.
 * The 2000 version features Rik Mayall as Herod.
 * After the 1973 film Herod would become an elementary school principal.
 * The woman who portrayed of Mary Magdalene in the 1971 Swedish version happens to be a well-known singer in her own right but gained international success by joining a famous music group.
 * Throw It In: The shepherd and his flock crossing in front of the crosses at the end of the 1973 film?  Complete accident caused by doing an extreme telephoto shot with a large depth of field -- the shepherd had no idea he was crossing an active shot.  But the result was so perfect there was no argument about using it in the final film.
 * What Could Have Been: Carl Anderson's career.
 * One of those up for the role of Jesus was a nineteen-year old actor from New Jersey named John Travolta. Not saying it would've been good, but it certainly would've been interesting.