The series about Jesus' earthly ministry has previously enjoyed success with limited theatrical releases.
Show creator/director Dallas Jenkins and his cast and crew are completing the 76th and final day of filming of Season 4 of The Chosen today in Utah. Among the scenes to be shot is one featuring the Jesus character, played by lead actor Jonathan Roumie, interacting with Mary, his mother.
The 48-year-old Jenkins hosted a livestream last night to update fans and cap off this season, which he called "intense." He was joined by Roumie, who described it as the "hardest season" so far, largely because of all the scenes they shot outside in the heat - it has been pushing 100 degrees of late - and other elements like wind, dust, and fire ants...remember, Roumie and his fellow actors wear sandals: OUCH!
In the biggest news from their update, Jenkins announced that Season 4 will probably be released in late January and early February of 2024 and that he and his partners, in a first for the show, are "looking toward actually releasing all the episodes in theaters." The show does, of course, have a track record in that arena, having theatrically released a 2021 Yuletide special - Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers - and later following suit with the first two episodes and last two episodes of Season 3. Those productions performed impressively, too, bringing in more than $30 million total.
As to what viewers can expect from Season 4, Jenkins stated that it has fewer "big Bible miracles" than Season 3, which featured Jesus' walking on water and feeding the 5,000, but will be "deeper."
"I actually think this is going to be the most impactful season we've ever done emotionally and spiritually."
A case in point was a rough-cut scene from episode 3 that he shared during the livestream (it has since been removed from the program's social media channels) that shows Roumie's Jesus character in an exchange with Pharisees who are challenging Him. It is fiery, the emotions run high and anger flashes as the scene plays out.
Both Jenkins - who has already edited the first three episodes of the eight-episode season - and his star expressed a sense of weariness at the end of production, with the director saying the team is "quite exhausted," and Roumie chiming in that he personally is "ready to be done." The New-York-born actor was quick to add, however, that "it's been quite a ride," and "it's going to be an amazing season."