The Chosen (TV series)

The Chosen
Genre	Historical drama
Created by	Dallas Jenkins
Based on	The life of Jesus
Written by	Tyler Thompson Dallas Jenkins Ryan Swanson
Directed by	Dallas Jenkins
Starring	Shahar Isaac Jonathan Roumie Elizabeth Tabish Paras Patel Noah James George H. Xanthis
Music by	Matthew S. Nelson Dan Haseltine
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	21
Production
Executive producers	Derral Eves Matthew Faraci Dallas Jenkins Ryan Swanson Tyler Thompson Brad Pelo
Producers	Chad Gundersen Justin Tolley Chris Juen
Cinematography	Akis Konstantakopoulos Petros Atoniadis
Editors	John Quinn Adam Lutge
Running time	20–71 minutes
Production companies	Loaves & Fishes Productions Angel Studios Out of Order Studios
Original release
Network	VidAngel
Release	December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24) – present (present)

The Chosen is an American religious historical drama television series created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multiseason series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in 1st century, the series revolves around Jesus and the different people who met and followed him. The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis.

Jenkins wanted to create a series about Jesus that could be "binge watched". He hoped to distinguish the new series from previous portrayals of Jesus by crafting a multiseason, episode-based story that focused more deeply on the people who encountered Jesus, with a view of Jesus "through the eyes of those who met him". He wanted to present Jesus in a way that is more "personal, intimate, [and] immediate".

The producers have used innovative methods to both finance and distribute the series, which is financed primarily through crowdfunding and distributed by Angel Studios. It is free to watch through a dedicated app and website, and viewers are asked to "pay it forward" by contributing to fund future seasons. Fundraising for the first season as well as subsequent seasons continue to make it the most successful crowd-funded TV series or film project. As of 2021, viewers had contributed $40 million towards its production.

In addition to crowdfunding and the "pay it forward" model, revenue is generated through several other channels. The show is licensed to other streaming platforms and TV networks, such as Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Netflix. Merchandise and video sales provide additional sources of revenue, as have limited premiere runs in movie theaters. The show is being further adapted into a series of novels by Jenkins's father, author Jerry B. Jenkins, a series of graphic novels by Corvus Comics, and companion Bible study materials published by David C Cook.

According to an analysis commissioned by the producers, 108 million people have seen at least part of the show, as of 2022. Translation into as many as 600 languages is being funded by the Come and See Foundation.

Overview

The first season is set in 1st century Galilee, where Jesus starts to build a group for his ministry, inviting several people with different backgrounds. As he performs his first miracles, Jesus calls the redeemed woman Mary Magdalene, the stonemason Thaddeus, the choir member Little James, the fishermen Simon, Andrew, Big James, and John, the caterer Thomas and the vintner Ramah, and the tax collector Matthew to be his disciples. Jesus also meets with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who is perplexed by the acts of Jesus.The seasons culminates with the group traveling through Samaria, where, after revealing himself to Photina, a Samaritan woman, Jesus publicly launches his ministry.

The second season begins in Samaria and moves into nearby regions, like Syria and Judea, where Jesus continues to build his group of disciples. As he continues to perform miracles whilst preparing for an important sermon, Jesus additionally calls John the Baptizer's disciple Philip, the architect Nathanael, and the Zealot Simon Z. to be his disciples. As word of his public ministry begins to grow, Jesus encounters both opportunities and difficulties, concluding with the preparations for and the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount, subsequent to the arrest of John the Baptizer and alongside the introduction of the business apprentice Judas Iscariot who later becomes the twelfth apostle.

The third season centers on the disciples continuing to struggle while following Jesus as the group returns to Capernaum, with the increasing popularity of Jesus troubling different societal and political groups, including the Romans and the Pharisees. After taking a break in ministry following the Sermon on the Mount and as Jesus returns to his hometown that causes a shift in his ministry, he sends his twelve apostles, two by two, to preach and perform miracles without him, leading to the disciples facing their biggest challenge yet.

Cast and characters

Character	Portrayed by	Brief description	Seasons
			1	2	3
Simon	Shahar Isaac	A former fisherman in Capernaum, the brother of Andrew, and one of the twelve apostles of Jesus	Main
Jesus	Jonathan Roumie	A craftsman and Rabbi from Nazareth	Main
Mary Magdalene	Elizabeth Tabish	A redeemed woman from Magdala and a follower of Jesus	Main
Matthew	Paras Patel	A former tax collector in Capernaum and one of the twelve apostles	Main
Andrew	Noah James	A former fisherman in Capernaum, a former disciple of John the Baptizer, and one of the twelve apostles	Main
Zohara	Janis Dardaris	The wife of Nicodemus	Main	Does not appear
Eden	Lara Silva	The wife of Simon	Main	Guest	Main
Shmuel	Shaan Sharma	A Pharisee in Capernaum who studied under Nicodemus	Main
Zebedee	Nick Shakoour	A fisherman in Capernaum and the father of Big James and John	Main
John	George H Xanthis	A former fisherman in Capernaum and one of the twelve apostles	Main
Big James	Shayan Sobhian	A former fisherman in Capernaum and one of the twelve apostles	Main	Does not appear
	Kian Kavousi		Main	Does not appear
	Abe Bueno-Jallad		Does not appear	Main
Nicodemus	Erick Avari	A leading Pharisee from Jerusalem and a prominent member of Sanhedrin	Main	Does not appear
Quintus	Brandon Potter	A Roman magistrate in Capernaum and the Praetor of Galilee	Main	Recurring	Main
Gaius	Kirk B R Woller	A Roman centurion in Capernaum and former associate of Matthew	Main	Recurring	Main
Thaddeus	Giavani Cairo	A former stonemason in Bethsaida and one of the twelve apostles	Main
Little James	Jordan Walker Ross	A former member of the 288 Jerusalem Temple choir and one of the twelve apostles	Main
Thomas	Joey Vahedi	A former caterer from the Plains of Sharon, the partner of Ramah, and one of the twelve apostles	Guest	Main
Ramah	Yasmine Al-Bustami	A former vintner and a follower of Jesus	Guest	Main
Mary	Vanessa Benavente	Jesus's mother.	Guest	Main
Philip	Yoshi Barrigas	A former disciple of John the Baptizer and one of the twelve apostles	Does not appear	Main
Nathanael	Austin Reed Alleman	A former architect in Caesarea Philippi and one of the twelve apostles	Does not appear	Main
Simon Z	Alaa Safi	A former Zealot and one of the twelve apostles	Does not appear	Main
Judas Iscariot	Luke Dimyan	A former business apprentice from Kerioth and one of the twelve apostles	Does not appear	Guest	Main
Yussif	Ivan Jasso	A Pharisee from Jerusalem and a colleague of Shmuel	Recurring		Main
Tamar	Amber Shana Williams	An Ethiopian friend of the healed paralytic at Capernaum and a follower of Jesus	Guest	Recurring	Main
Atticus Aemilius	Elijah Alexander	One of the Roman cohortes urbanae sent from Rome to investigate on the Zealots	Does not appear	Recurring	Main

Episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
Pilot			December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24)
1	8		April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)	November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26)
2	8		April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04)	July 11, 2021 (2021-07-11)
Christmas Special			December 1, 2021 (2021-12-01)
3	8		December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18)	TBA

Pilot (2017)

Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
"The Shepherd"	Dallas Jenkins	Tyler Thompson and Dallas Jenkins	December 24, 2017 (2017-12-24)
On the outskirts of Bethlehem, during the Roman occupation, Simon (Aaron Himelstein), a crippled shepherd, brings a lamb for sacrifice. While Simon asks the priest about the coming Messiah, the lamb he brings is discovered to have a blemish. The priest rejects it, demanding a perfect and spotless lamb. Simon hears a reading of Isaiah from a nearby synagogue and goes in, only to be expelled. On the way home, the shepherd meets a couple from Nazareth, a pregnant Mary (Sara Anne) and her husband Joseph (Raj Bond). That evening, while Simon is far from his fellow shepherds, the shepherds hear the angelic announcement of the birth of the Lamb of God, and they immediately head to Bethlehem. Full of joy, Simon is miraculously healed as he follows after, leaving his staff behind. The shepherds arrive and witness the birth of the Messiah. Seeing the baby, Simon asks his name, and Mary and Joseph reply that he will be called "Jesus". Leaving the manger, the shepherds tell everyone what they have seen. The priest from before asks where the spotless lamb for sacrifice is, and Simon simply smiles.

Season 1 (2019)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	1	"I Have Called You By Name"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
In Capernaum, AD 26, Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish), going by the name "Lilith", wrestles with real demons. While the Pharisee Nicodemus (Erick Avari) is touring the region, Praetor Quintus (Brandon Potter) approaches him, demanding help in collecting unpaid taxes. The tax collector Matthew (Paras Patel) deals with the turmoil of being considered a traitor by his fellow Jews. The fishermen Simon (Shahar Isaac) and his brother Andrew (Noah James) struggle with their tax debts to Rome. At a centurion's behest, Nicodemus goes to the Red Quarter to perform an exorcism on "Lilith" but fails, leaving him shaken. On tax day, Andrew is unable to pay, but Simon tells Matthew that he has an arrangement with Quintus. The arrangement is to inform Quintus about his fellow Jews fishing on Shabbat but Andrew disapproves, considering it a betrayal. "Lilith" loses hope for her condition, until she encounters Jesus (Jonathan Roumie), who calls Mary Magdalene by name, healing and restoring her.
2	2	"Shabbat"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
A recently healed Mary Magdalene prepares for Shabbat. Matthew validates Simon's claims of negotiating with Quintus. Simon continues to spy on merchants and buys drinks for them and his fellow fishermen, James (Shayan Sobhian) and John (George H. Xanthis), sons of Zebedee (Nick Shakoour). Nicodemus investigates the reported miracle of the healing in the Red Quarter. Simon is forced to fish on Shabbat, leaving his wife Eden (Lara Silva) behind. As Mary Magdalene hosts her Shabbat dinner, she receives surprise guests, including Jesus and his students Thaddeus (Giavani Cairo) and James (Jordan Walker Ross). Nicodemus leads a Shabbat dinner with the other Pharisees. Matthew eats dinner with his dog after deciding not to have dinner with his family. Leaving the dinner with Andrew and Eden, Simon is approached by the Romans at the Sea of Galilee to spy on the merchants again.
3	3	"Jesus Loves the Little Children"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
Jesus camps on the outskirts of Capernaum, AD 26. A local girl named Abigail (Reina Ozbay) discovers the location and plays with the craftsman's tools while he is away. She invites her friend Joshua (Noah Cottrell) to come see Jesus for himself. Jesus soon befriends Abigail and Joshua, as well as the friends they invite in the following days. The children help Jesus on his work. Jesus teaches them about love, prayer, justice, compassion, faith, and wisdom. When he is asked the reason why he is here, Jesus reveals himself as Messiah, reciting the words of the prophet Isaiah. After Jesus moves camp, Abigail discovers he left a gift for her.
4	4	"The Rock On Which It Is Built"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)
At the Sea of Galilee, Simon misleads the Romans to save fellow Jews from being caught. Quintus suspects Simon of duplicity and sends Matthew to follow him. Shmuel (Shaan Sharma) tells Nicodemus about a baptizer on the Jordan River. Running from the Jordan, Andrew claims to Simon they are saved, as his rabbi John the Baptizer (David Amito) has identified the Lamb of God, but Simon prepares to fish. Andrew, Zebedee, Big James, and John arrive to help, but they catch nothing. In the morning, they see someone teaching a crowd on the shore. Andrew recognizes the teacher as Jesus, who asks to preach from their boat. After the sermon, Jesus tells Simon and Andrew to cast their nets. Suddenly, many fish appear, and they catch enough to pay off their debts. Simon surrenders himself to Jesus, and inviting Simon and Andrew to become fishers-of-men, Jesus also calls Big James and John. Witnessing the miracle, Matthew is shocked by its impossibility. Meanwhile, Nicodemus visits the imprisoned John the Baptizer to ask about miracles.
5	5	"The Wedding Gift"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26)
In Jerusalem, AD 8, Mary (Vanessa Benavente) and Joseph find the missing 12-year-old Jesus (Shayan Naveed Fazli) teaching in the Temple. In Cana, AD 26, Mary helps her friend prepare for her son's wedding. Nicodemus interrogates the detained John the Baptizer concerning signs and wonders. Thomas (Joey Vahedi) and his business partner Ramah (Yasmine Al-Bustami) prepare wine for the wedding. Jesus and his students make their way to the wedding, while John the Baptizer explains his ministry and Jesus's ministry to Nicodemus. During the wedding, Thaddeus and Little James share how Jesus called them. Thomas and Ramah worry as the wine runs low. Mary immediately asks her son to intervene on behalf of the bridegroom's family, recalling finding young Jesus in the Temple, and tells the servants to do everything Jesus says. Jesus instructs them to fill jars with water and they obey, yet Thomas expresses doubts. Jesus prays his readiness to his Father, turning the water into wine. When the wine is served, the master of the banquet exclaims it is the best he has ever tasted. Thomas and Ramah accept the invitation to join and meet Jesus in Samaria in 12 days.
6	6	"Indescribable Compassion"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26)
Matthew and his associate Gaius (Kirk B. R. Woller) deliver Simon's tax payment to Quintus. Nicodemus tries to correct Shmuel for detaining the Baptizer. On the way back to Capernaum, a leper (Stephen Hailo) approaches Jesus and the group on the road, asking Jesus to heal him. Jesus cleanses the leper, telling him not to speak of it. The group heads to the house of Zebedee and his wife Salome (Nina Leon). As Jesus preaches, a crowd gathers, drawing the attention of both the Pharisees and the Romans. After witnessing the healing of the leper on the road earlier, an Egyptian named Tamar (Amber Shana Williams) forces her way through the crowd to help her paralytic friend, Ethan (Noé de la Garza), meet Jesus. Tamar's friends climb to and remove the rooftop, lowering the paralytic. Jesus forgives the paralytic, disturbing the onlooking Pharisees. Jesus heals the paralytic, and Matthew writes it down. Shmuel quickly calls on the Romans to seize Jesus. The disciples immediately flee and Nicodemus seeks Mary Magdalene to meet with Jesus.
7	7	"Invitations"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26)
In the Sinai Peninsula, 13th century BC, Moses (Stelio Savante) fashions a bronze serpent, much to the confusion of his assistant Joshua (Advait Ghuge). In Capernaum, AD 26, Gaius escorts Matthew to show his gratitude for his promotion. Quintus questions Nicodemus concerning the miracle worker. Jesus agrees to meet with Nicodemus by night. After witnessing the miracles Jesus did, Matthew struggles to reconcile his mathematical understanding of reality and visits his mother, hoping to find answers. Meeting with Nicodemus by night, Jesus explains the Kingdom of God and being born again. Jesus illustrates himself as the Son of Man, using Moses and the bronze serpent as an example. He tells of God's love for the world and his mission to save mankind from sin. As Jesus invites Nicodemus to join him, John records their conversation. Nicodemus worships Jesus, declaring him as the Son of God. In the morning, Jesus and his students pass by Matthew's booth. Jesus invites Matthew to join him, and Matthew promptly follows.
8	8	"I Am He"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	November 26, 2019 (2019-11-26)
In Canaan, 1952 BC, Jacob (Amato D'Apolito) and his sons dig a well in Shechem. In Sychar, AD 26, Photina (Vanessa De Silvio), a suffering Samaritan woman, fetches water from Jacob's Well. At Matthew's house in Capernaum, Jesus answers questions from the Pharisees, including Yussif (Ivan Jasso), with the words of Hosea. Shmuel petitions Nicodemus concerning false prophecy. Jesus goes to Simon's house and heals Simon's mother-in-law, Dasha (Leticia Magaña). Learning Matthew left, Quintus issues a decree against religious gatherings outside synagogues. As Jesus and his students complete their preparations to depart Capernaum, Nicodemus leaves money for them. Gaius bequeaths Matthew's wealth to Matthew's father, Alphaeus (Troy Caylak). On the road, Jesus decides to go through Samaria, much to the shock of the disciples, especially Big James (Kian Kavousi) and John. When they arrive in Sychar, the disciples go to town to buy food while Jesus stays at Jacob's Well, where he meets Photina, asking her for water. Jesus offers her "living water", expresses true worship, and announces that he is the Messiah. After hearing Jesus telling her everything she did, Photina tells everyone Jesus is the Christ. The disciples return and Jesus publicly launches his ministry.

Season 2 (2021)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
9	1	"Thunder"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 4, 2021 (2021-04-04)
During shiva for the martyred Big James in AD 44, John interviews fellow disciples as he writes their eyewitness accounts for his book. In Sychar, AD 26, Big James (Abe Martell) and John plow a field while Jesus continues to teach the Samaritans. Thomas and Ramah arrive and join the group. Tension builds among the disciples as they wrestle with the increasing fame of Jesus in Samaria. Jesus and his students have dinner with Melech, a former robber now crippled. In the morning, Melech is healed. Big James and John assume leadership roles but the other disciples oppose their presumptions. When James and John try to present their plans to Jesus, a group of Samaritans shows extreme hostility towards them. James and John ask Jesus to rain fire to destroy the Samaritans, and Jesus rebukes James and John for their prejudice. After the near-violent encounter, Jesus gives them a new nickname: "the sons of thunder". Invited to a synagogue to read a scroll of Moses, Jesus reads the first scroll of Genesis, and in AD 44, writes the introduction for his book as he reminisces.
10	2	"I Saw You"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 13, 2021 (2021-04-13)
In Caesarea Philippi, Nathanael (Austin Reed Alleman) fails in his project under a Roman commission. In Bashan, Philip (Yoshi Barrigas) arrives from John the Baptizer and seeks to meet Jesus, but the disciples are hesitant. Simon is jealous of him as Philip begins to mentor Matthew. A distressed Nathanael sits under a fig tree, reciting a Psalm and crying out for a response from the Lord. Hearing nothing, he burns his architectural drawings of a synagogue. Meeting Jesus at night, Philip is called by Jesus. At the camp, Thaddeus advises Matthew yet tension builds between Simon and Matthew. Philip visits and comforts Nathanael, telling his friend about the one they've been waiting for their entire lives. Nathanael is skeptical but agrees to meet Jesus, who tells him that he saw him under the fig tree and heard his cry. Upon hearing this, Nathanael declares Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel. As the group heads to a new city, John arrives with a word that Jesus's fame is growing.
11	3	"Matthew 4:24"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	April 13, 2021 (2021-04-13)
In Syria, the disciples take shifts to help Jesus deal with a large crowd hoping to be healed. Philip continues to mentor Matthew, while Mary Magdalene and Ramah start to study Torah. An exhausting day turns into night as the disciples share how they perceive the Messiah. Jesus's mother arrives from Nazareth to help with her son's students. Around the campfire, the group tries to get to know each other better. They discuss their experiences and their inner turmoil, but tensions erupt when Simon argues with Matthew about being chosen. Tempers flare as sides are taken as the disciples forget the purpose of why Jesus chose them in the first place. In the commotion, an exhausted Jesus returns and says good night to them and his mother attends to him. The disciples listen and watch in shame.
12	4	"The Perfect Opportunity"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	May 11, 2021 (2021-05-11)
Jesse (Dennis Apergis), a paralytic, spends 38 years searching for a cure and stays at the Pool of Bethesda while his brother, Simon (Alaa Safi), joins the Zealots. The Zealots plot to assassinate a Roman magistrate in Jerusalem with Simon Z. leading the plan, but Atticus Aemilius (Elijah Alexander), a Roman cohorte urbanae, discovers their plan. Jesus and the disciples head to Jerusalem to prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles. Assisted in Jerusalem by fellow Pharisee Yanni (Wasim No'mani), Shmuel preaches against false prophecy. The disciples discuss the scriptures as they celebrate the feast. After being informed about Shmuel, Jesus goes to the Bethesda Pool to meet someone, bringing Simon, John, and Matthew. At Bethesda, Jesus approaches Jesse, asking him if he wants to be healed. Jesus heals Jesse and John writes down the miracle. Witnessing the healing, Yanni and other Pharisees admonish Jesse for carrying a mat on Shabbat. When the assassination plan is being executed, Simon Z. is distracted as he sees Jesse walking. The two brothers reconcile and Atticus Aemilius is bewildered. Jesus withdraws himself and Simon Z. searches for him.
13	5	"Spirit"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)
Seeing a Roman, Mary Magdalene is troubled while memorizing the scriptures. Shmuel and Yanni interrogate Jesse concerning Jesus and update the petition to the Sanhedrin. Atticus Aemilius questions Jesse and pursues Simon Z. and Jesus. Searching for Jesus, Simon Z. encounters a demon-possessed man named Caleb. John the Baptizer visits the group and tells Jesus his dangerous mission of going to Jerusalem to call out Herod Antipas's sin for marrying Herodias. When Simon Z. finds the disciples' camp, the demon-possessed Caleb attempts to attack the group. Jesus returns to the camp and heals Caleb, casting out the demon Belial. Simon Z. surrenders himself to Jesus. John the Baptizer submits to Jesus and departs to accomplish his mission. Devastated by the encounter earlier on the exorcism, Mary Magdalene flees to a local tavern. Learning Mary Magdalene has gone, Jesus instructs Simon and Matthew to look for her.
14	6	"Unlawful"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	June 23, 2021 (2021-06-23)
In Nob, Israel, 1008 BC, as Ahimelech (Marty Lindsey) teaches his son, Abiathar (Major Dodge Jr.), about the shewbread, David (Jorge Franco IV) seeks him out for food. In Jericho, AD 26, Simon and Matthew try to get along as they search for Mary Magdalene in dark places. Matthew and Simon find Mary Magdalene who is ashamed for leaving the camp and going back to her old life, and they convince her to come back. At the camp, Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene for turning back, while the group receives bad news concerning John the Baptizer's arrest by Herod, distressing Andrew. Thomas informs Jesus they struggle with lack of food and the group goes to a synagogue at Wadi Kelt on Shabbat. In the synagogue, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand named Elam (Shaun Bedgood), upsetting the Pharisees Madai and Lamech. As the group leaves, Jesus permits his hungry disciples to eat and pluck grain. The Pharisees criticize them for doing this on Shabbat and Jesus references David and the shewbread as he declares himself the Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath.
15	7	"Reckoning"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	June 30, 2021 (2021-06-30)
After learning of Jesus's whereabouts from Atticus Aemilius, Quintus sends Gaius to arrest him. As the group prepares for Jesus's upcoming big sermon, Andrew worries bad things will happen. Shmuel returns to Capernaum with Yanni and asks Yussif about Tamar. Gaius detains Jesus and Jesus peacefully surrenders. The disciples lose control as they argue about how to respond. In Jotapata, while seeking information about where Jesus has been taken, Andrew, alongside Philip, encounters Tamar and her healed paralytic friend, Ethan, who offer testimonies of the miracle. Quintus meets with Jesus and questions him concerning his deeds and actions. Seeing that he poses no threat, Quintus releases Jesus with a stern warning. Madai and Lamech meet Shmuel and Yanni in Jotapata and inform them about Jesus. Andrew tells Tamar and Ethan to be silent, supported by a disguised Yussif to warn them of Shmuel. Later that night, Jesus returns to his disciples who ask him how to pray and Jesus teaches them a prayer.
16	8	"Beyond Mountains"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	July 11, 2021 (2021-07-11)
A businessman and his apprentice (Luke Dimyan) take advantage of a land as they negotiate with the owner. Jesus and Matthew prepare the content of the big sermon. As Tamar joins the group, the disciples continue to bicker amongst themselves. The disciples spread the word of the upcoming sermon and make arrangements for its location on the mount. Shammai (Ric Sarabia), a high-ranking Sanhedrin member and rival of Shimon, is shocked by Shmuel's and Yanni's reports on Jesus. Jesus discusses with Matthew the sections of the sermon, such as salt and light and light of the world, leading to the Beatitudes as the introduction of the sermon. Thousands arrive on the day of the sermon, including some familiar faces. Eden reunites with Simon while Big James and John reunite with their parents, Zebedee and Salome. The businessman and his apprentice, who had helped the disciples acquire the sermon's location, arrive as well. The apprentice meets the disciples once more and introduces himself as Judas. Jesus walks towards the stage as he begins his Sermon on the Mount.

Christmas Special (2021)

Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
"The Messengers"	Dallas Jenkins	Ryan Swanson, Dallas Jenkins, and Tyler Thompson	December 1, 2021 (2021-12-01)
In AD 48, as the Roman persecution toward Christians is widespread, Tychicus (Alican Barlas), a follower of the Way, meets with Lazarus (Demetrios Troy) to help Mary Magdalene see Jesus's mother, Mary, who has a fever at that time. Mary Magdalene informs Mary about the growth of the church, the disciples' missions, and what happened to the boys. Afterward, Mary recounts to Mary Magdalene her experience in 4 BC from the journey to Bethlehem where she and her husband Joseph couldn't get a room at the inn to the manger where she gives birth to Jesus. Mary shares her song as well and gives Mary Magdalene a piece of clothing from the manger. After Mary tells her and Joseph's perspective of the birth of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, she instructs her to write down the complete story of Jesus's birth and her song, and deliver them to Luke (Alex Veadov) who has been gathering eyewitness accounts regarding Jesus. In Rome, Mary Magdalene gives the account and a thorough story of Jesus's birth to Luke to include and add in Luke's writings.

Season 3 (2022-2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
17	1	"Homecoming"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
In AD 24, Alphaeus renounces then-publicanus Matthew as his son. In AD 26, Jesus continues to deliver the Sermon on the Mount. After Judas Iscariot bids goodbye to his mentor, Jesus calls Judas to follow him. Jesus gathers his followers to take a break in ministry. Joanna (Amy Bailey), a woman who works in Herod's palace in Machaerus, comes from the imprisoned John the Baptizer to support the ministry of Jesus. Andrew goes with Joanna to visit John the Baptizer in prison. After hearing the sermon, Yussif investigates and writes a record about Jesus, sharing the written letter for Nicodemus with Jairus (Alessandro Colla), the new synagogue administrator in Capernaum. Speaking with John the Baptizer, Andrew is set straight to focus on and listen to Jesus. Judas Iscariot gives his possessions to his sister and leaves to follow Jesus. Andrew apologizes to Mary Magdalene for his past actions while Matthew goes to his parents' home and reconciles with Alphaeus.
18	2	"Two by Two"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18)
Considering Jesus as a problem for the Romans, Atticus Aemilius and Gaius report to Quintus about pilgrims from everywhere setting up a tent city at the gates of Capernaum to see Jesus, causing the redrawing of city lines. Simon Z. encounters Atticus Aemilius, who demands an answer concerning what Jesus is, offering an alliance to put an end to the Zealots. At Simon's house, Jesus commissions the twelve as his chosen apostles, sending them out in every direction, two by two, to preach and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He grants them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons, and gives them specific instructions for their mission. After Judas Iscariot accepts the nomination from Matthew as the treasurer of the group, Jesus pairs up the apostles, creating tensions among them. Contemplating the mission, Little James asks Jesus why he hasn't been healed. Jesus comforts Little James by affirming he will be healed one day. Outside Matthew's former home, the apostles recite a Psalm of David together.
19	3	"Physician, Heal Yourself"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	December 25, 2022 (2022-12-25)
Jesus returns to Nazareth to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with his mother, Mary. Having dinner in the absence of James and Jude, Jesus tells Mary how his students are doing. His childhood friends, Lazarus, Mary (Catherine Lidstone), and Martha (Sophia Cameron Blum), arrive in Nazareth from Bethany for the celebration. The people of Nazareth buzz with what they have heard regarding Jesus. At the synagogue, Jesus reads a scroll from the prophet Isaiah and declares it fulfilled on that day. Jesus uses the examples of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath and of Elisha and Naaman to prove his pronouncement of salvation in the Year of Jubilee. Jesus then proclaims himself as the Messiah, enraging and upsetting the hearers. The people of Nazareth reject and condemn Jesus as they drive him out of the town to throw him down a cliff, but Jesus passes through their midst. Jesus visits his earthly father Joseph's tomb and reminisces about the inherited bridle Joseph passed on to him.
20	4	"Clean, Part 1"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	January 1, 2023 (2023-01-01)
Two by two, the twelve apostles accomplish Jesus's commission to heal, cast out demons, and proclaim the kingdom of God. Yussif is pressured by Rome to handle the repair of a broken cistern which is polluting the local water supply. Jairus admits to reading Yussif's sealed account of Jesus and professes his belief. Upon their return, the disciples reunite and struggle to comprehend their experiences. Eden attempts to reconnect with Simon, but finds him unreceptive, then meets Veronica (Zhaleh Vossough), a woman from Caesarea Philippi who has suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years. At Jairus's home, his daughter Nili (Ella McCain), becomes ill from the polluted water, leading to Jairus questioning Yussif about Jesus. Alongside Shmuel and Yanni, Shammai's proposal of a decree against false prophecy is approved by the council. Simon realizes there is tension with Eden, and becomes upset at his home being used for as a meeting place. Taking a walk, he encounters and talks to Gaius at the synagogue and agrees to help fix the broken cistern. Meanwhile, Jairus's wife, Michal (Mel Mehrabian), checks on Nili and calls urgently for her husband.
21	5	"Clean, Part 2"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	January 8, 2023 (2023-01-08)
22	6	"Intensity in Tent City"	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	January 15, 2023 (2023-01-15)
23	7	TBA	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	TBA
24	8	TBA	Dallas Jenkins	Dallas Jenkins, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson	TBA

Background and production

Development

Dallas Jenkins directs episode 3, season 1 of The Chosen

In 2017, working through his production company, Vertical Church Films, Dallas Jenkins released a feature length film, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, which underperformed at the box office. While trying to figure out what his next move would be, Jenkins began binge watching different television shows and realized there had never been a multi-season show about Jesus that could be watched in the same way. Jenkins returned to a script for a short film called The Shepherd that he had originally written specifically for a Christmas Eve service at Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin, Illinois. It was filmed on a friend's farm in Marengo. Expanding on that idea, he came up with the concept for The Chosen as a multi-season show about the life of Jesus that could build a backstory based on cultural and historical context.

Faith-based video filtering service VidAngel became aware of the film and became interested in expanding the concept. At the time, VidAngel was embroiled in a lawsuit with major Hollywood studios and thus seeking original content to distribute. They suggested putting the short film on Facebook as a concept pilot to generate interest for a multi-season series. The short film received over 15 million views around the world.

VidAngel, along with Jenkins and video marketing strategist Derral Eves, used the crowdfunding business model to produce the first season The Chosen by utilizing a provision of the JOBS Act of 2016. This allowed them to offer a share of ownership and profits from the company to online investors rather than the arbitrary "perks" offered by regular crowdfunding. At the end of January 2019, the first fundraising round had raised over $10.2 million from over 16,000 investors for the project, which surpassed Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the top crowdfunded TV series project. Each investor received equity in "The Chosen LLC" which is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Their equity stake allows them to share in profits not only from the show itself, but also other revenue sources such as merchandise, books, and bible study materials. Majority shareholders will not receive a share of the profits until the original investors earn 120% of their investments.

Since funding the first season by selling equity, the show has utilized traditional crowdfunding for subsequent seasons. Contributors may receive perks, such as appearing as an extra in the film. Season 2 fundraising had raised over $6 million from more than 300,000 contributors as of July 1, 2020. The average contribution is $65.

The show also raises revenue through licensing to other streaming platforms and TV networks, video and merchandise sales, and limited premiere runs in movie theaters.

As with the previous seasons, the producers continue to use the "pay it forward" model to help fund the development of the show's fourth season.

Seven seasons are planned.

Script

In contrast with typical Bible-focused productions, Jenkins has given more depth to his scripts by adding backstories to various characters from the Gospels, without contradicting material that is present. This is noted in the opening credits of the first episode, which include the following:

The Chosen is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical context and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the gospels. The original names, locations and phrases have been translated into English for anything spoken.

Although the show has an evangelical tendency, there are consultants from three Christian faith traditions providing input. Acting as consultants are Messianic rabbi Jason Sobel from Fusion Global Ministries, Catholic priest and national director of Family Theater Productions Father David Guffey, and professor of New Testament at Biola University Dr. Doug Huffman. They review scripts and provide facts or context on the biblical, cultural, and socio-political history of the storyline.

Jenkins said he draws creative inspiration from shows like Friday Night Lights and The Wire, while writers Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson list Game of Thrones, The Wire, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Trek as their influences.

Casting

The show features many people of color as actors, which is not often the case in television and film based on the Bible. Jenkins avoided "big stars" and "white people", instead trying to re-create a picture of first-century Capernaum, which, being on a trade route, would have reflected a diversity of ethnicities and backgrounds.

Various members of the cast have described a deep connection to the show, the story, and their character. Elizabeth Tabish, who was considering leaving her acting career, described it as a "dream role". Jonathan Roumie said he always aims to "empty out as much of himself as possible" to allow the Holy Spirit to work in him through both the script he received and his performance onscreen. He described his preparation for his role which includes "a good bit of reading and rereading the source material" and especially "in the spiritual department". Roumie says his accent is based a combination of the accent of his father, who is from Egypt, and his sister-in-law, who is from Palestine.

Filming

Season 1 was filmed over 60 days mostly in and around Pooleville and Weatherford, Texas, supplemented by a sound stage and visual effects in a Dallas studio. After searching online for suitable locations, the producers settled on the existing Capernaum Village in Pooleville, a venue that offers both film set rental and live experiences for tourists, to recreate the historical Capernaum.

Season 2 moved filming to Utah's version of ancient Israel in Utah County, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) had built a replica Jerusalem movie set to film scenes for their Bible and Book of Mormon videos. The set is part of the LDS Motion Picture Studios South Campus, and its use by The Chosen marks the first time a production not affiliated with the LDS Church has been granted access to film on this set, which was built to authentically replicate most of the primary locations of the ancient city. Filming was done during October and November 2020. Commenting on how much the Utah desert resembles the Holy Land, Dallas Jenkins said that they could not re-create it anywhere else—"you can't even get this in Israel".

Being filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for the production of season 2. Two thousand extras came for filming the Sermon on the Mount scene, all of whom were required to obtain a negative PCR test prior to filming. Safety precautions such as multiple testing and proper PPE kits for the cast and crew members were also applied. Following COVID-19 protocols increased the production costs by an additional $750,000. Anyone coming onto the set had to be tested in advance and upon arrival, longer meal breaks were required, and all hair and makeup stations had to be sanitized regularly. Jenkins indicated that they experienced less than five positive cases during filming.

Filming for season 3 moved production back to Texas, to a site in Midlothian selected for its similarities with the Middle East in both topography and weather. There The Chosen partnered with the National Christian Foundation and the Impact Foundation to construct a $20 million production complex on the site of the Salvation Army's Camp Hoblitzelle, and will include a soundstage, set workshops, and a replica of Capernaum. The Chosen will lease the facility, which will also be used for other film and television projects. Beginning in April 2022, filming for season 3 included a four-day shoot for the Feeding of the 5,000 scene which used nearly 12,000 extras from 36 countries, most of whom came at their own expense and made their own costumes.

Music

To compose the music for the series, creator Dallas Jenkins called on longtime friend Jars of Clay vocalist and songwriter Dan Haseltine. Not only had Haseltine been a friend of Jenkins, but he had also worked on previous projects with him in the past, composing the music for Hometown Legend. Initially, Haseltine was not interested, believing that there were plenty of similar projects and the world didn't need another "cheesy Jesus story". After Jenkins convinced him this would be different, Haseltine brought in fellow Jars of Clay multi-instrumentalist Matthew S. Nelson to assist with composition. Haseltine has noted that musical influences include Middle Eastern, Indian drone, Delta Blues, and "slave spirituals".

Themes

Executive producer Dallas Jenkins wanted to produce a multi-season series about Jesus that could be "binge watched". Hoping to distinguish the series from previous portrayals of Jesus, Jenkins wanted to "dig deeper into the people who encountered Jesus", presenting a story that is more "personal, intimate, [and] immediate". The show seeks to give backstories to the both the characters and the settings. There are storylines that explore vice and addiction, autism, and physical disability.

Actor Jordan Walker Ross, who plays Little James, has scoliosis and minor cerebral palsy which causes him to walk with a limp, a disability that previous acting jobs have asked him to hide. Rather than hide it, Jenkins has used Walker Ross's physical disability to explore story themes in which Jesus heals some people but not others.

Jenkins also specifically highlights the fact that there were key moments in which women were intentionally chosen by Jesus to be a vital part of his ministry.

Other themes within the storylines include "complex relationships, suspense, political intrigue, and charged emotional moments", as well as marital conflict and financial struggles.

Release and distribution

Streaming and broadcast

The first season was originally released on VidAngel's subscription service and was also available for purchase on DVD. Viewership was initially sluggish. In March and April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first season of The Chosen was made available for free through its app, at which time viewership spiked. Jenkins stated that revenue actually went up after they made it free to watch, attributing it to "God's impossible math". The producers have since made the free-to-watch model permanent, using a "pay it forward" model for viewers to contribute funding to make it free for other users. Their primary distribution continues to be through their own app and web site. New episodes are typically premiered via livestream on YouTube and Facebook, and then released on the app and website.

In exchange for allowing production of the show at the LDS Church's Goshen set, BYUtv was granted streaming and broadcast rights in late 2020, which made it the only broadcast network airing the show at the time. The series has since been licensed for release through several secular, Christian, and family-oriented streaming and broadcast platforms. By early 2021, broadcast was extended to include Amazon Prime Video, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Peacock, and UPtv. In 2022, it was released on Netflix. The series has also expanded to international platforms, such as Canal+ in France.

Theatrical release

The Chosen has twice partnered with Fathom Events for theatrical releases. The first release was a Christmas special titled Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, which opened in 1,700 theaters on December 1, 2021. It ultimately grossed $13.5 million with one million tickets sold, breaking a record for Fathom Events. The effort was to satisfy demand from fans as well as an attempt to drive people back to movie theaters. The second theatrical release was a showing of the first two episodes of season 3 prior to them being released for streaming. It was screened in more than 2,000 theaters throughout the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The season 3 theatrical release brought in more than $10 million on the opening weekend, out-earning several Hollywood films. Jenkins has indicated an interest to release the final two episodes of season 3 in theaters as well, noting that the feeding of the 5,000 is more suited to the big screen.

Translation

The producers of the series desired for The Chosen to be seen by over one billion people and broadcast in every country in the world. In October, 2022, the Come and See Foundation was formed as a nonprofit to help fund the translation and global distribution of the series. With no current budget, the foundation is currently operating on funding from an anonymous donor. The goal of the Come and See Foundation is that the show be dubbed in 100 languages and subtitled in 500 more. Currently, season 1 is dubbed in 12 languages and subtitled in 62, season 2 is dubbed in 7 languages and subtitled in 20 additional languages.

Reception

The show's popularity began largely as an underground phenomenon, going unnoticed and unreviewed by major publications. Until it was added to Peacock in 2021, The Chosen was not available on any major cable network or streaming service, and yet it was still able to achieve more than 300 million streaming views in that time. It has been able to build a large and devoted fan base, raising a significant portion of its funding through crowdsourcing, achieving success through its "pay-it-forward" viewing model, and breaking ticket records for its theatrical releases. The success of the series is attributed to artistic storytelling and cultural relevance, while staying true to the message of the gospels.

While praising the show for its acting, direction, and speculative storytelling beyond typical Bible stories, The Atlantic's Chris DeVille has suggested that the show's popularity among Christians is due in part to scarcity, noting that the quality of most "Christian" entertainment is usually not at a level produced by Hollywood, and that its success so far has arrived "not in spite of its insularity, but because of it". Other Christian commentators have also praised the series for its production value, noting that it raises the bar for other faith-based productions. While DeVille concluded that "for the most part, the series seems to be finding its fans among the converted", Texas Monthly stated that the show has the most mainstream crossover potential since Touched by an Angel.

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 100 percent of critics have given season 1 a positive review based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 7.80/10.

Writing in Film Threat, Alan Ng called the series "smart and insightful to a contemporary audience".

Viewership

Producers estimate that the first 16 episodes had been viewed 312 million times as of November 2021. According to Sandy Padula, an independent consultant hired by the producers, over 108 million people globally have watched at least part of one episode of The Chosen.

Awards and accolades

Episode 8 from Season 1 ("I Am He") earned two Movieguide Award nominations in 2020, with Epiphany Prize for Inspiring Television Program for the series and Grace Prize, Television for Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus.

The series won the Best Film/Television Impact category at the 2021 K-love Fan Awards.

The series won the Inspirational Film/Series of the Year at the 2022 Dove Awards.

The Chosen received the Museum of the Bible's Pillar Award in 2022.

Media information

Marketing

Jenkins and VidAngel initially focused on social media to promote their idea for the show by releasing the short film The Shepherd on Facebook. After the first season of the show was released, they began to utilize their "Pay It Forward" model to assist with promotion. In addition, Jenkins has built a large following of fans by regularly hosting livestream events and "viewing parties". The production company employs a dedicated social media staff as well as a dedicated video team for "behind the scenes" coverage that is used in social media promotion. According to Jenkins, their success is based on direct communication with viewers.

Promotional trailers are developed to appeal to specific denominations.

In 2022, as part of the producers' Easter marketing campaign, 48 of the 70 billboards for the show nationwide were changed to appear as having been defaced or vandalized with phrases like "The Chosen is boring" and "Chosensux.com". The URL directed users to a web site called "The Chosen is Not Good" which depicted Satan as a character trying to get people to not watch the show. As a result of the campaign, many fans of the show were concerned that the defacement was real, and in April, Dallas Jenkins issued an apology to fans for having not mentioned anything about the campaign.

Merchandising

To complement its crowd-sourced fundraising model, The Chosen generates revenue through merchandise sales including T-shirts, hats, books, and DVDs. In addition to general merchandise, The Chosen has partnered with Christian publishers such as David C. Cook and Broadstreet Publishing to produce companion study guides, devotionals, and Bible study materials. The show is also being adapted into a series of graphic novels by Corvus Comics.

Soundtracks for season 1 and 2 have been released. Songwriter Dan Haseltine believes there will be additional projects by other artists influenced and inspired by the series.

Companion Bible study materials

To complement the show content, Dallas Jenkins, along with his wife Amanda, and Douglas Huffman have released companion Bible studies that follow the show. Huffman, a professor of New Testament at Biola University, also serves as a consultant to the show. The first study, from David C. Cook publishers, was released January 21, 2021. In addition to a book, the study includes digital resources, video clips, teacher guides, and promotional materials.

Books

Dallas Jenkins's father, Left Behind author Jerry B. Jenkins, has contributed a novelization of each of the show's first two seasons. An additional third novel is planned. Jenkins has collaborated in the past with his father on Hometown Legend and Midnight Clear, a full-length feature film based on one of his father's short stories.

The elder Jenkins notes that this is atypical, since TV shows or movies are usually based on a novel; but in this case, it is the other way around, with the novel being based on the show in what he refers to as "a backward deconstruction". Jenkins notes that the biggest challenge in this approach is adding detail to the story that is not part of the Biblical account.

See also

• The Resurrection of Gavin Stone
• The Wingfeather Saga

External links

• Official website
• The Chosen's channel on YouTube
• The Chosen at IMDb
• The Chosen at Rotten Tomatoes