12 iconic Last Supper reimaginings in pop culture: From 'The Simpsons' to 'Sopranos'

Pop culture takes on 'The Last Supper': From 'Lost' to 'House MD'

The appeal of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper', a monumental fresco in the dining room of the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery in Milan, transcends time and medium. While numerous old master paintings are celebrated for their composition—such as Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch', El Greco's 'The Burial of the Count of Orgaz' and Velazquez's 'Las Meninas' — it is Da Vinci's masterpiece that has inspired countless reinterpretations in pop culture. From satire to science fiction, we explore 12 remarkable instances where 'The Last Supper' has been interpreted in ingenious ways.

1. M*A*S*H

Robert Altman's 1970 satirical film about the Korean War, 'M*A*S*H', features a memorable tableau reminiscent of 'The Last Supper'. Dr Waldowski (John Schuck) takes the central position, much like Jesus. Waldowski, the company dentist, is distraught over the "lack of performance" of a visiting nurse and plots his suicide. He consults with Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland) on the best method before swallowing a black pill which is a sleeping pill. When Waldowski awakens, his worries are soon allayed by a new nurse.

2. Battlestar Galactica

The promotional photo for the fourth season of Ronald D Moore's 'Battlestar Galactica' is one of the most scrutinized 'Last Supper' interpretations. Fans dissected every detail, from the positions of the characters to the objects they were holding. The empty seat hints at the unrevealed Final Cylon, and Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) are positioned to reflect duty and love. The burning object Roslin holds is a harbinger of future events, while the goblet next to the empty seat hints at the Final Cylon, emphasizing Moore's sophisticated storytelling.

3. Watchmen

Zack Snyder's film adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel 'Watchmen' contains an allusion to 'The Last Supper' in the opening credits. A pregnant Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino) takes center stage, while the Comedian assumes the position of Judas. This scene, which sums up the story of the costumed vigilantes, stands out even among fan-created suppers with other superheroes such as the Justice League and the X-Men, although these versions have not yet been filmed.

4. The Simpsons

The episode 'Thank God It's Doomsday' from Season 16 of 'The Simpsons' is bursting with religious symbolism and ends with a 'Last Supper'-like scene in Moe's Tavern. Here, Barney appears as the figure of St John, mirroring Da Vinci's soulful portrayal. The episode, with its mix of sacred and profane humor, underscores the series' talent for blending pop culture with biting satire.

5. The Expendables

The poster for 'The Expendables' depicts the action stars as characters from 'The Last Supper' Sylvester Stallone takes the central position of Jesus, while Nan Yu's Maggie takes the place of John, who in some interpretations is thought to be Mary Magdalene. Dolph Lundgren's Gunnar, the traitor from the previous film, takes the place of Judas. Chuck Norris, Jason Statham and others complete this gun-toting homage that combines religious iconography with action-hero grandeur.

6. The Sopranos

Annie Leibovitz's photo of 'The Sopranos' actors, which was published before the second season, shows Tony Soprano's two families: his biological family on one side and his mafia family on the other. This clever composition mirrors 'The Last Supper' and symbolizes the duality of Tony's life and the profound influence the series had on the television drama.

7. House MD

A promotional image from the third season of 'House MD' cleverly reinterprets 'The Last Supper.' Dr Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) stands in the Jesus position, wearing gloves and ready for surgery, while Dr Chase (Jesse Spencer) takes the place of Judas, reflecting his impending firing. The arrangement of interested and disinterested colleagues is true to the original and underlines the cerebral nature of the series.

8. Super Size Me

'Last Supper' by artist Ron English for the film 'Super Size Me' focuses on a bloated Ronald McDonald who symbolizes fast-food excess. English, who is known for his provocative work, collaborated with Morgan Spurlock to create this clear critique of consumer culture. The poster for 'POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold' continues this theme, combining corporate satire with religious iconography.

9. Lost

As 'Lost' prepared for its final season, a promotional photo showing the cast around an airplane wing sparked intense fan speculation. John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) takes center stage, surrounded by characters whose placement hints at their storylines. Despite the mixed reactions to the end of the series, this image expressed the show's ability to captivate and amaze audiences.

10. South Park

In 'Margaritaville', an episode from the Season 13 of 'South Park', the show's creators poked fun at the global recession by portraying capitalism as a religion. Kyle takes on the role of the Jesus and Cartman that of Judas. The scene takes place in an arcade where people are eating pizza and is a humorous and biting criticism of economic mismanagement.

11. Star Wars

The painting by artist Eric Deschamps for Giant Magazine is a reinterpretation of the 'Last Supper' with 'Star Wars' characters. Avinash Arora later transformed this work into a photomosaic, using screenshots from the films to create a detailed homage to both Da Vinci and the popular science fiction saga.

12. That '70s Show

The first season of 'That '70s Show' featured a 'Last Supper' style scene in the episode 'Streaking' This playful yet irreverent tableau, set against the backdrop of 1970s American culture, contains a joke about school lunch that alludes to Da Vinci's theme of communal eating.