The Chosen (TV series)

The pilot episode begins in AD 26 in Capernaum, where we meet Sanhedrin member and Pharisee Nicodemus touring the region, tax collector Matthew, fishermen brothers Simon and Andrew, demon-possessed Mary Magdalene and wandering craftsman Jesus.

The final two seasons of the planned eight season show are intended to chronicle his death and resurrection.[5]

Main Cast

• Jonathan Roumie as Jesus
  • Shayan Fazli as young Jesus (episode 5)
• Erick Avari as Nicodemus
• Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene
  • Camila Carreon as young Mary Magdalene (episode 1)
• Shahar Isaac as Simon Peter
• Noah James as Andrew
• Paras Patel as Matthew
• George Harrison Xanthis as John
• Kian Kavousi (episodes 5-8) and Shayan Sobhian (episodes 1-4) as Big James
• Giavani Cairo as Thaddaeus
• Jordan Walker Ross as Little James
• Joey Vahedi as Thomas

Supporting

• Vanessa Benavente as Mary
  • Sara Anne as young Mary (pilot episode)
• David Amito as John the Baptizer

Special participation

• Raj Bond as Joseph
• Aaron Himelstein as Simon, the shepherd (pilot episode)
• Nick Shakoour as Zebedee
• Nina Leon as Salome
• Lara Silva as Eden, Simon Peter's wife
• Yasmine Al-Bustami as Ramah, Thomas' partner
• Ivan Jasso as Yussif, a Pharisee
• Shaan Sharma as Shmuel, a Pharisee
• Brandon Potter as Praetor Quintus, a Roman official
• Kirk B.R. Woller as Gaius, a Roman centurion and associate of Matthew
• Troy Caylak as Alphaeus, Matthew's father
• Stephen Hailo as the leper
• Amber Shana Williams as Tamar, a friend of the paralytic
• Noé de la Garza as the paralytic
• Leticia Magaña as Dasha, Simon Peter's mother-in-law
• Vanessa De Silvio as Photina, the Samaritan woman at the well

Guests

• Stelio Savante as Moses (episode 7)
• Amato D'Apolito as Jacob (episode 8)

Jenkins made a short film, The Shepherd, for his church in Elgin, Illinois, U.S., filming it on a friend's farm in Marengo. The film got the attention of the faith-based filtering service VidAngel, which was embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit with major Hollywood studios and thus seeking original content to distribute.[6] VidAngel suggested putting the short film on Facebook as a concept pilot to generate interest for Jenkins' idea of a multi-season series. The short film received over 15 million views around the world.[7][3]

Jenkins was introduced to social media brand expert and business owner Derral Eves, and the two partnered to create and own The Chosen, with Eves as executive producer, primarily responsible for building the audience through their social media channels.[8]

VidAngel, along with Eves and Jenkins, turned to crowdfunding to raise money to produce the first season, utilizing a provision of the JOBS Act of 2016 which allows companies to use equity crowdfunding to offer a share of ownership and profits from the company to online investors, rather than the arbitrary "perks" offered by regular crowdfunding.[7] At the end of the first fundraising round in January 2019, the project had raised over $10.2 million from over 16,000 investors,[1][9] unseating Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the top crowdfunded filmed project.[4][7][9] Each investor received equity in the show and is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).[9]

The makers of the series have expressed that they desire for The Chosen to be seen by over one billion people in every country in the world.[10][2]

Eight seasons are planned.[4]

The show was filmed over 60 days in Weatherford, Texas, and used the existing Capernaum Village, which offers film set rental and live experiences for tourists, to recreate the historical Capernaum. The filming was supplemented by a sound stage and visual effects.[14][3][9][15]

The show also used religious experts to review scripts, including providing facts or context on the biblical, cultural, and socio-political history, the show maker said. They also hired many people of color as actors.[9][1]

The opening scroll says it is "based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed and 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."[16]

The first season was distributed on its own mobile app free around the world,[17] as well as the VidAngel streaming platform in the United States.[18]

In March and April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first season of The Chosen was made available completely free with no restrictions through its app.[1][3]

The series' success is attributed to artistic storytelling, creativity and the incorporation of comedy, while staying true to the message of the gospels.[19]

Episode 8 from Season 1 earned two Movieguide Award nominations in 2020.[20] By early 2020 crowd funding efforts were afloat for season 2 with a goal of $10 million.[18]

The series has a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and 99 percent from audiences.[21] As of April 28, 2020 it has been viewed over twenty million times in 180 countries. It is currently being translated to 70 languages.[3] As at April 24, 2020, the show was on IMDB's top 250 rated TV shows list.[22]

• Official website
• The Chosen on IMDb
• The Chosen at Rotten Tomatoes