ForDallas Jenkins, it’s been all about authenticity since day one. The creator, director, and co-writer of Prime Video’s hit series,The Chosen, recently addressed fans in an Instagram post, sharing why he thought the title connected with so many people around the world. At the center of it all, Jenkins believes that the popularity and the show’s ability to resonate with so many is due to the creative choices made that would portray its primary character —Jonathan Roumie’s Jesus — as he was in the Bible. This meant leaning into Jewish customs and practices that Jenkins said have gotten lost in other Jesus-centered titles. Using the word “authentic” as his north star, Jenkins explained,
“On day one of writing, six years ago when I was in my basement, we put up a word on the wall on a big white piece of paper that just said ‘Authentic’. Everything that we did, we wanted to be as authentic as possible. And that starts with the fact that this is a Jewish show about a Jewish Jesus. And that’s one of the things, one of the reasons why we wrote ‘authentic’ is because we felt like that was lacking in a lot of other Jesus movies and mini series that we’d seen. Not all of them — but occasionally — the portrayal of Jesus reflected the background of whoever was making it. So if it was Europeans making it, it was a European Jesus. If it was British people, if it was American people, it was a British or American Jesus. ObviouslyMel Gibsonas a Catholic, it felt like a Catholic portrayal of the story, which is perfectly fine.”
What Keeping ‘The Chosen’ “Authentic” Meant for Dallas Jenkins’ Project
Continuing to explain how the team settled onthis version of JesusforThe Chosen, Jenkins added,
“Our portrayal, we just wanted to get rid of all of those things that sometimes get in between the authentic look at who Jesus was — and that means, first and foremost — we’re gonna really lean into the Jewishness of the story, the prayers, the synagogues, all of those things are really important to us.”
In his mind, the steps they took to ensure aBiblically accurate version of the characterare a large part of why the show has taken off like wildfire around the globe, even in places that Jenkins says “would traditionally be resistant,” withthe directorexplaining,
“And, I do think, that that’s one of the reasons why people in Israel, including those who are not Messianic, do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah have said, ‘Well, one thing we appreciate about this is how Jewish Jesus is, he’s a rabbi,and we love seeing our prayers and our traditions portrayed positively and favorably.’ And we’re seeing Gentiles all over the world pray the Jewish prayers now, interested in Jewish traditions and I think that the historical and cultural accuracy has been a huge reason why it’s taken on a life of its own in some of these countries that would traditionally be resistant.”
you’re able to see Jenkins’ full comments in the video above. Season 5 ofThe Chosenis set to arrive on Prime Video in June. The first four seasons are available to stream now.
The Chosen
The Chosen is a historical drama based on the life of Jesus and those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Roman oppression in first-century Palestine, the series shares an authentic look at Jesus' revolutionary life and teachings.
