Ethan Walker
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series created by Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century. The series is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ, with some creative liberties taken with timelines, locations, and character backstories. While the show has an evangelical tendency, it features consultants from three Christian faith traditions, including a Catholic priest, to ensure the accuracy of the biblical and historical context. The series has garnered a wide audience of different faiths and has been praised by some Catholic viewers for its portrayal of Jesus and its potential to spark a desire to do good. However, some Catholics have expressed concerns about its Protestant influence and potential theological inaccuracies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Christian historical drama |
| Based on | True stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ |
| Format | Television series |
| Number of seasons | 5 |
| Number of seasons planned | 7 |
| Creator, director, and co-writer | Dallas Jenkins |
| Star | Jonathan Roumie |
| Character portrayed | Jesus Christ |
| Other cast members | Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis |
| Production | Filmed in Texas and Utah |
| Availability | Free to watch |
| Audience | Wide audience of different faiths and beliefs |
| Reception | Positive among Catholics |
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What You'll Learn
The Chosen is a Protestant program
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series created, directed, and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. The series is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ, with some creative liberties taken for context and artistic imagination. It is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century.
While 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.
Despite the input of these consultants, some have argued that The Chosen is a Protestant program. This claim is based on the idea that the show portrays a Protestant interpretation of Scripture. For example, Protestants believe that there is no single correct interpretation of the Bible, which may influence how the show's writers and creators choose to portray biblical events and characters.
Additionally, some Catholic viewers have expressed concern that the show could subtly influence their thinking and beliefs. They argue that while there may not be explicit contradictions to Catholic theology, the show's Protestant perspective could still impact their understanding of the Faith, the Church, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary.
However, other Catholic viewers have recommended the show, arguing that it is a delightful series that increases their desire for the presence of the Lord and his holy ones. They also highlight the emotional and spiritual impact of the show, which encourages reflection on the person of Christ and what it means to be a disciple.
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It has been called a delightful series by a Catholic priest
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. It is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century. The series depicts Jesus's life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him, including the apostles, disciples, Jewish religious leaders, Roman government and military officials, and ordinary people.
The series has been called a delightful series by a Catholic priest. In a review for Catholic Answers Magazine, the priest writes about how the characters of the apostles, Our Lady, the Magdalene, and Nicodemus, among others, are presented in a charming way, which makes the viewer respond to them with real feeling and affection. He further adds that any work of art that increases the desire for the presence and company of the Lord is a boon for Catholics as they await the reunion on the Last Day. The review also mentions that the series will help with discursive prayer, which is useful for Catholics.
The series has also been well-received by other Catholics. Some Catholics have said that the series is a good choice for television and that it is fine for Catholics to watch it. They also mention that it is a good way to spark their desires to do good and reflect on the person of Christ and what it means to be a disciple. The series has also been praised for its entertainment value and for doing a good job of representing the love and compassion that people are called to have for one another.
The series has also been noted for its ability to appeal to a wide audience of different faiths and beliefs. Dallas Jenkins, the show's creator, has said that the show's success is due to its authenticity and humanity rather than trying to create beauty. Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the series, has also echoed similar sentiments, stating that when they stick to the truth, people can only respond to it.
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It explores its Catholic side in the Eternal City
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series created, directed, and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It recounts the stories of the Gospels and is based on the true stories of the Gospels of Jesus Christ. The series is primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century and depicts Jesus's life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him, including the apostles, disciples, Jewish religious leaders, Roman government and military officials, and ordinary people.
The series explores its Catholic side in the Eternal City. Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the series, met Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square in Rome, where he was promoting the show. Roumie, a Catholic himself, described the meeting as "a childhood dream come true". Roumie also wrote down a few lines in Spanish to tell the Argentine pontiff, in which he thanked Francis and asked for his prayers as he faces the challenge of interpreting Jesus.
The show has a Catholic priest, Father David Guffey, as one of its consultants. He reviews scripts and provides facts or context on the biblical, cultural, and socio-political history of the storyline. The show has been able to appeal to a wide audience of different faiths and beliefs. Jenkins has said that the show "starts with being authentic and human" and that they are "trying to find the beauty and not create the beauty". Roumie adds that "when we're sticking to the truth, people can't deny the truth, they can only respond to the truth".
Despite its efforts to reach wider audiences, The Chosen has still had to grapple with the fundamental rifts tearing at the Christian community. Jenkins has hosted roundtables with a Protestant theologian, a Catholic priest, and a Jewish rabbi, addressing "the red flags" that might be raised by the show.
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It portrays Jesus' life through the eyes of those who interacted with him
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series that explores the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the first multi-season series about Christ and has been recognised as the most successful crowd-funded TV series in history. The series is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ, with some artistic liberties taken to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures.
The show portrays Jesus's life through the eyes of those who interacted with him, including the apostles and disciples of Jesus, Jewish religious leaders, Roman government and military officials, and ordinary people. It provides an authentic and intimate look at the revolutionary life and teachings of Jesus. The series is set in first-century Judaea and Galilee against the backdrop of Roman oppression in Israel.
The Chosen has been well-received by audiences of different faiths and beliefs, with over 280 million viewers worldwide, a third of whom are not religious. It has received positive reviews for its acting, direction, and storytelling beyond typical Bible stories, as well as for its authenticity. The show has also been praised by Catholic priests, who have recognised its potential to increase viewers' desire for the presence of the Lord and his holy ones.
The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, and Roumie has spoken about his journey of "total surrender" to the character, which led him from being a broke aspiring actor to the star of the show. He has also emphasised the importance of sticking to the truth in the series, believing that people can only respond to the truth. The show's creator, Dallas Jenkins, has similarly emphasised the goal of authenticity, drawing a parallel with Michelangelo's view of his work as freeing art from its marble cage.
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The show has garnered more than 300 million viewers worldwide
The American Christian historical drama television series, "The Chosen", has garnered over 300 million viewers worldwide. The show is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ and is the first multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It is primarily set in Judaea and Galilee in the first century and is filmed in Texas and Utah.
The show has been well-received by people of various faiths and beliefs. It has been described as "a delightful series" and "a blessing" by viewers. The show's creator, Dallas Jenkins, has said that the goal is to "be authentic and human" and to "find the beauty, not create it". Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the series, has also spoken about his journey of "total surrender" to Jesus, which led him from being a broke aspiring actor to the star of "The Chosen".
"The Chosen" has also been recognised by the Catholic Church, with Roumie meeting Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square in 2021. The show has had to grapple with some criticism from Catholics who believe that it goes against certain Catholic beliefs. However, Catholic priests have also reviewed the show positively, with one priest describing it as "good art" that is "done with skill and fine dialogue".
The show's wide appeal can be attributed to its availability for free through "The Chosen" app, as well as its use of different business models and distribution methods, including licensing to other streaming platforms and TV networks, and revenue from video and merchandise sales. The first season was financed through crowdfunding, becoming the most successful crowd-funded TV series in history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series. It is not specifically Catholic, but it has explored its Catholic side and has been able to appeal to a wide audience of different faiths and beliefs.
The Chosen is about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, set in the first century in Judaea and Galilee. It depicts Jesus's life through the eyes of the people who interacted with him, including the apostles, disciples, Jewish religious leaders, and ordinary people.
Jonathan Roumie stars as Jesus in The Chosen, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis, among others.
The first season of The Chosen was filmed over 60 days in Texas, supplemented by a sound stage and visual effects in a Dallas studio. Season 2 was filmed in Utah County, Utah, on a replica Jerusalem movie set.
The Chosen is free to watch through The Chosen app and is also available on other streaming platforms and TV networks.
