A creative disagreement between The Chosen director Dallas Jenkins and star Jonathan Roumie led to changes in Season 6, particularly in the way Jesus is portrayed during the crucifixion.

Jenkins discussed the behind-the-scenes moment during a two-hour appearance on the podcast Within Reason, hosted by Alex J. O’Connor, a self-described agnostic and fan of the series.

The conversation covered everything from the origins of The Chosen to its approach to Scripture and the unexpected way the series has connected with audiences from different Christian traditions.

Why The Chosen Has Reached So Many Audiences

Jenkins admitted that the show’s broad popularity across Christian denominations has surprised him.

“It’s partly a mystery to me as to why the show has resonated so strongly with so many different Christian traditions,” he said.

The director also noted that the series has been gaining popularity in Israel, including among some people who do not believe in Jesus. According to Jenkins, part of that interest comes from the show’s emphasis on Jewish culture and its portrayal of the historical setting.

He believes the series’ wide appeal is largely connected to its focus on the story of Jesus rather than denominational differences.

Jenkins pointed out that many Christian traditions agree about the historicity of Christ, giving the series common ground with viewers from different backgrounds.

Jonathan Roumie Objected To A Season 6 Scene

That shared ground was tested during production of Season 6, which will focus heavily on the crucifixion.

O’Connor asked Jenkins whether he and Roumie, who plays Jesus and is Catholic while Jenkins is an evangelical Protestant, had ever disagreed over creative decisions.

Jenkins said such disagreements have been uncommon, but Season 6 brought their most significant creative difference yet.

According to Jenkins, he and his co-writers had written several moments in which Jesus speaks from the cross in a relatively casual manner. One scene even included a light-hearted reference after Jesus noticed one of the characters.

For Roumie, however, the tone did not feel appropriate for the circumstances.

Jenkins explained that Roumie was deeply uncomfortable with the idea of Jesus making a casual or humorous remark while experiencing such intense suffering.

The Catholic Advisor Also Raised Concerns

The production team also sought the opinion of the show’s Catholic adviser, David Guffey, a priest from the Congregation of Holy Cross in Santa Monica, California.

Guffey shared concerns about the tone of the dialogue, particularly whether it was reverent and accurate enough to convey the significance of Jesus’ Passion and crucifixion.

Jenkins said Roumie was more outspoken about the issue than he had ever been before.

He recalled Roumie telling him, “I’ve never been this uncomfortable.”

The disagreement led to hours of discussion between Jenkins and Roumie as they worked through the scenes.

Jenkins said some of the material was already being considered for cuts, explaining that he initially wanted to see how the dialogue felt before deciding what should remain.

Eventually, the two reached a version of the scenes that they were both comfortable with.

Jenkins And Roumie Usually See Eye To Eye

Despite the disagreement, Jenkins stressed that the creative conflict was unusual.

“For the most part, we were in lockstep,” he said of his working relationship with Roumie and their shared approach to portraying Jesus.

Season 6 of The Chosen is scheduled to launch on Prime Video on November 15. The season finale, which will depict the crucifixion, is scheduled for a theatrical release in March 2027.

Source: Compiled from various sources