Bill O'Reilly's next blockbuster: 'Killing Jesus'

Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY | USATODAY

After turning two presidential assassinations into best sellers, Bill O'Reilly says his next book will be about the execution of Jesus.

Killing Jesus will be published Sept. 24 using the same style and collaborator, Martin Dugard, that O'Reilly used in Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy.

O'Reilly announced the news Wednesday night at the end of his Fox News show, The O'Reilly Factor, saying "We've uncovered some interesting things about the execution of Jesus of Nazareth and how it all ties into Roman power."

He offered no details, but told viewers, "I think you're going to like it."

O'Reilly, a combative commentator who says he's more of a "traditionalist" than a conservative, is a practicing Catholic. So is Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, who has used O'Reilly as the main inspiration for his satirical right-wing character on The Colbert Report.

O'Reilly's new topic is sure to add a twist to their rivalry. In October, O'Reilly joked to Comedy Central's Jon Stewart that his next book would be Killing Colbert.

O'Reilly, a former high school history teacher, told USA TODAY last October that he leaves most of the research to Dugard and he handles the writing. His approach, he said, is to write "history that's fun to read" in a "populist way. No pinheaded stuff, just roar it through!" He writes history as if it's a fast-paced thriller, with dramatic foreshadowing in a you-are-there present tense. And, O'Reilly said, "It's all true!"

O'Reilly and Dugard's books on Lincoln and Kennedy were huge best sellers:

Killing Lincoln landed at No. 3 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books in October 2011 and has been in the top 50 for 59 weeks. It's currently No. 46. It was adapted as TV special, narrated by Tom Hanks, that aired last Sunday on National Geographic Channel and drew 3.4 million viewers, a record for the channel.

Killing Kennedy also landed on the list at No. 3 in October 2012 and has been in the top 50 ever since. It's currently No. 44.