Producer Mark Burnett turning to the Bible

(CBS/AP) Having mastered the jungle and the boardroom, TV producer Mark Burnett is taking on the Bible.

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Burnett, who a decade ago put reality TV on the map with a summer smash called "Survivor," has agreed to produce a 10-hour History Channel docudrama based on the Bible. His wife, actress Roma Downey, is working on the project with him. The series is set to air in 2013, said the History Channel Tuesday.

History Channel president Nancy Dubuc said that the program, titled "The Bible,'' will bring the book to life for a new, visually oriented generation around the world.

"The Bible'' will be shot in the Middle East and elsewhere and combine live action with computer-generated imagery. Scripture stories ranging from Noah and the Ark to Exodus to the crucifixion of Jesus will be included.

A 50-year-old former British paratrooper, Burnett is a newcomer to scripted drama. He also has been involved in such reality programming as "The Apprentice" and "The Celebrity Apprentice," "The Voice" and "Sarah Palin's Alaska."