The Chosen (TV series)


The Chosen is a 2017 television drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, and season one was the highest crowd-funded TV series or film project of all time. The series' creators stated that they had hoped to distinguish the new series from previous portrayals of Jesus by crafting a multi-season, episode-based story. The series portrays Jesus "through the eyes of those who met him".

Overview

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.

Cast

Main Cast
Supporting
Special participation
Guests
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. 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.
Jenkins was introduced to video marketing strategist Derral Eves and the two partnered to create and own The Chosen, with Eves as executive producer. In October of 2017, Eves and Jenkins formed a Utah-based LLC in order to "develop and produce an episodic television series entitled 'The Chosen' which is intended to be distributed through online video streaming services, television and home video." Jenkins received a 49% ownership interest In the Company in exchange for his rights to the story. In XX, Eves, Jenkins and others worked with an investment bank to raise $13 million in financing for the project.
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. At the end of the first fundraising round in January 2019, the project had raised over $10.2 million from over 16,000 investors, unseating Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the top crowdfunded filmed project. Each investor received equity in the show and is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Season 2 fundraising had reached over $6 million from over 300,000 investors as of July 1, 2020.
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.
Seven seasons are planned.

Episodes

Season 1 (2017–2019)

The first four episodes were released in April and the last four in November 2019.

Season 2

The eight episodes are still in the process of being written.

Biblical accuracy

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.
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.
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."

Release

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

Reception

The series' success is attributed to artistic storytelling, creativity and the incorporation of comedy, while staying true to the message of the gospels.
Episode 8 from Season 1 earned two Movieguide Award nominations in 2020. By early 2020 crowd funding efforts were afloat for season 2 with a goal of $10 million.
The series has a 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and 99 percent from audiences. As of April 28, 2020 it has been viewed over twenty million times in 180 countries. It is currently being translated to 70 languages. As of April 24, 2020, the show was on IMDB's top 250 rated TV shows list.