The Chosen is an American Christian historical drama television series created, directed and co-written by filmmaker 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 1st century, the series centers on Jesus and the different people who met and followed or otherwise interacted with him. The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, alongside Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, and George H. Xanthis. Noticing that there had never been a multi-season, episode-based portrayal of Jesus that could be “binge-watched” like shows on streaming mediums such as Netflix, Jenkins intended the show to differ from previous portrayals of Jesus by crafting a story arc that focused more deeply on the people who encountered Jesus and viewing him through their eyes. He wanted to present Jesus in a way that was more “personal, intimate, and immediate”.
The producers have used innovative methods for finance and release, primarily through crowdfunding. Fundraising for the first season[3][4] as well as subsequent ones continues to make The Chosen the most successful crowdfunded TV series or film project. As of 2021, viewers had contributed $40 million towards its production. In late 2022, the creators partnered with a new nonprofit company, the Come and See Foundation, to manage funding, which allows contributors to receive a tax deduction for their contribution.
In addition to crowdfunding and the pay-it-forward model, revenue is also generated through several other methods. 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 cinemas. The show has been 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. New episodes are released for free on the Angel Studios website and app and are later made available through various streaming platforms. Some episodes, particularly season debuts and finales, have been released in theaters before coming out for free. According to an analysis commissioned by the producers, 108 million had 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.
