{"id":5941,"date":"2021-10-26T21:54:10","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T01:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/?p=5941"},"modified":"2021-10-29T10:40:55","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T14:40:55","slug":"the-chosen-on-the-big-screen-popular-series-to-debut-christmas-special-in-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/2021\/10\/the-chosen-on-the-big-screen-popular-series-to-debut-christmas-special-in-december.html","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Chosen\u2019 on the Big Screen; Popular Series to Debut Christmas Special in December"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

During a Livestream announcement on social media tonight, \u201cThe Chosen\u201d creator, director, and co-writer Dallas Jenkins revealed plans for this year\u2019s Christmas special which will debut in theaters on Dec. 1 and 2 for the first time, as a Fathom Events presentation. The highly popular series, centering on the life of Christ and His disciples, stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, Shahar Isaac as Simon, and Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene.<\/p>\n

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Dallas Jenkins directs Jonathan Roumie in \u2018The Chosen.\u2019 Image courtesy of Inspire Buzz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Raising $10 million, season one is the highest crowd-funded TV or film project of all time. The series also earned a 100 score on the \u201cRotten Tomatoes\u201d entertainment review site and the highest-rated faith film project on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).<\/p>\n

Jenkins teased tonight\u2019s \u201cbig announcement\u201d for days leading up to the broadcast. He also gave the musical lineup for the episode, including Maverick City Music, for KING & COUNTRY, Cain, Phil Wickham, The Bonner Family, Bryan and Katie Torwalt, Jordan Feliz, Lenna Crawford, and Matt Maher. The Christmas special will include a full episode of the popular series,\u201d part of \u2018The Chosen\u2019 canon,\u201d including Joseph (Raj Bond) and Mary (Sara Anne) from his \u201cThe Shepherd\u201d short that inspired the series.<\/p>\n

Update: \u2018Christmas with The Chosen\u2019 Breaking Early Ticket Records, More Theaters Added<\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cThis is the first time we\u2019ve done anything like this,\u201d Jenkins explained, adding that it\u2019s an opportunity for fans to meet each other in theaters and also demonstrate the show\u2019s popularity to the culture. \u201cWe want to make an impact in theaters.\u201d He also indicated that if this Fathom event special is a success, which they are confident it will be, more special events will follow.<\/p>\n

Last year, I spoke to Jenkins for a Charisma cover story<\/a>. During our conversation, he expressed gratitude for the warm reception to the series, but also explained how he tried to ignore accolades and criticism when plotting the future:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success is extraordinarily gratifying and beautiful, but I can\u2019t think about it when I\u2019m writing in the blank page for season two, or for season three,\u201d he said. \u201cI still have to come up with new stuff. But I think it\u2019s an affirmation that when we\u2019re focused on Jesus, He removes the scales from the eyes of those who are watching and is able to make an eight-year-old understand it in the same way that a sixty-year-old does.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In tonight\u2019s Livestream video, Jenkins also gave an update on season three, which is currently in pre-production with plans to begin filming in early 2022. \u201cThe Chosen\u201d is planned to extend to seven seasons.<\/p>\n

Watch Jenkins\u2019 announcement below. For more on the series, click here<\/a>. For tickets to the Christmas special, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n