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By Paul Bond
Chief Correspondent, Culture
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Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, a TV show about Jesus Christ that is one of the most popular series worldwide based on a few metrics, told Newsweek that the fourth season was the most challenging yet, not only due to strikes by writers and actors but also due to controversies.
He's had to deal with detractors who say he takes too many liberties with the Bible and, in June, there were calls for a boycott from a small faction of conservatives who spotted an LGBTQ+ Pride flag in some behind-the-scenes footage.
The show responded to that one with a tweet saying they are happy to "work with anyone on our show who helps us portray or honor the authentic Jesus."
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But one small controversy he's happy to lean into is his support of Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas, he told Newsweek ahead of a premiere Wednesday of the theatrical release of some of the early episodes of Season 4 of The Chosen.
He called The Chosen "the most Jewish show in the world. I think they expect us to be supportive of Israel. It's where the roots of our faith come from. It's where our show is set."
He added: "Of course there's nuance to everything and war is never good ... but I don't think saying 'I support the Star of David and support the Jewish roots of my faith and I support the nation state of Israel' is an unexpected thing."
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He also said he doesn't much care about controversy.
"I'm not doing this to avoid criticism or gain praise," he told Newsweek about his making of The Chosen. "The content of the show are also in many ways happening today: tribalism, oppression, war, the desire for victory. I think Jesus's message is more resonant now than ever, partially because of what's happening in Israel."
Speaking to the filled-to-capacity audience at the historic Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, Jenkins announced that cast member Shahar Isaac, who plays the Apostle Peter, could not be at the premiere because he is in Israel as a member of its military.
On a lighter note, he joked that the reason The Chosen shoots most scenes in Texas is because Texans believe Jesus lived there, and he lamented the beating the Dallas Cowboys took from the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFL playoff game.
Unlike traditional red-carpet premieres, the one for The Chosen on Wednesday featured a teal carpet.
"Teal is the color of our show, man. It's the color of light, it's the color of water, it's the color of sky. So we just thought, 'Let's be on brand.' We've always done things a little bit outside the box," he told Newsweek.
In the fourth season of The Chosen, the themes are love, loss and trust, Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus, told Newsweek.
"Tensions are mounting increasingly between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus and the Roman authority and Jesus and the Disciples," Roumie said. "We see all these relationships go through a rigorous testing process this season."
After the first few episodes get a two-week run in theaters, more will also be released theatrically through March 7 before all eight episodes go to streamers. If history is a guide, they'll first go to The Chosen app, TheChosen.tv and the Angel Studios app before also making their way to Netflix, Amazon Prime, the CW and more.
Roumie hasn't been shy about some aspects of his politics, speaking against abortion at the March for Life rally January and in October he posted a video online announcing he was praying the Rosary "for all who are suffering in the Middle East, in Israel and Gaza."
Though when Newsweek asked if he would go a bit further in the political realm by endorsing a presidential candidate, he demurred by joking: "Jesus for president. That's who I'm endorsing."
Roumie, who has described himself as a born-again Catholic, added: "I'm happy just being an actor telling stories. This is what God put me on Earth to do."
Aside from The Chosen, Roumie said he will be narrating an upcoming documentary about the real-life Father Edward Flanagan who was portrayed by Spencer Tracy in the 1938 movie Boys Town that also starred Mickey Rooney.
"That man was a giant for what he did for orphan kids and how he integrated orphaned boys at a time when the Ku Klux Klan was trying to take him down. He was a fearless, Irish priest," Roumie said.
As for The Chosen, its first three seasons have been viewed by 200 million people worldwide on Netflix, Peacock, Amazon Prime, the CW and more. From its humble beginnings as a crowdfunded project, it now boasts 770 million episode views and 12 million followers on social media.
Jenkins and the others behind the series hosted in October what they called ChosenCon, a two-day conference that drew 3,500 people, including fans from Australia and South Korea, to a Dallas, Texas, hotel to celebrate the show, which is now dubbed in 50 languages.
Update, 1/18/2024 at 3:07 p.m. ET: The story was updated to clarify there are eight episodes in Season 4.
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