The Bible Sequel: Coming to NBC

NBC has scored what is bound to be a ratings windfall.

The network announced today that it has secured the rights to a miniseries sequel to The Bible, which earned huge numbers when it aired earlier this year on The History Channel.

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey will produce the follow-up, which is moving forward with the working titled of "A.D.: Beyond the Bible."

It will chronicle the time after Jesus was crucified, back when the Roman Empire was attempting to bring religious zealots to heel and the apostles were spreading the message of Christianity in defiance of the authorities.

"We are thrilled to be working with [NBC executives] Bob [Greenblatt], Jen [Salke] and Quinn Taylor to bring the follow-up to our hit cable series 'The Bible' to broadcast television with NBC," Burnett and Downey say in a statement. "Our new series, 'A.D.: Beyond the Bible,' is another massive project and a major commitment, but it's a story that has to be told. It's a story that changed the world. We look forward to making this an enormous television event on NBC."

The Bible aired on History in March and drew over 11 million viewers, which would have made it the top-rated scripted series on NBC by a wide margin.

No air date has been announced for the sequel.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.