 The novel version of the screenplay, also entitled "Color of the Cross", was penned by writer/singer/actress Ayvee Verzonilla.Reaction to the film was generally negative due to its low budget and production qualities.Among reviews, Jeannette Catsoulis of "The New York Times", noted that "Color of the Cross, a low-budget re-imagining of Christ's final days, makes a big deal out of the relatively tame suggestion that Jesus was black."