When fans of the hit series The Chosen gathered at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida (United States), for the second “ChosenCon” annual in late September, CNA — EWTN News’ English-language agency — spoke with the creator and several of the cast members about the future of the show and what fans can expect from season 5, which focuses on the events of Holy Week.
Dallas Jenkins, creator, director and writer of the show, told CNA that season 5 is “sad at times. In fact, it’s heartbreaking at times because we know we’re getting closer and closer to the cross… We’re going to see some iconic moments from Scripture, but we’re also going to get closer, I think, to who Jesus was because of his suffering.”
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Ryan Swanson, one of the writers of The Chosenadded that season 5 “will really feel like a different type of series. After the terror, doom and foreshadowing of season four, now is when the fuse is lit.”
When asked how writers prepare to portray the important and historical events of Holy Week, Swanson emphasized the importance of relying on Scripture, noting that “up to 30% of Scripture is about this week.”
“We receive great help from the Bible because there is no other part of it that is written as chronologically and clearly regarding the events of the week as this week. So all of that is laid out for us,” he said. “I think our challenge becomes how to tell it in a new way, especially to insiders.”
“What we’re trying to do is try to tell the story honestly, factually, historically, but also give it that twist.”Chosen‘of what these moments were like for the people who would have been there,” Swanson explained.
Knowing what lies ahead for her character and the shocking moments she is a part of, Elizabeth Tabish, the actress who plays Mary Magdalene, shared that she has “tried not to think about it too much.”
“It’s overwhelming and I really want to get it right and honor that moment in the Gospels. That’s why I think I’m a little nervous,” she said. “As far as preparation goes, I think I’m just going to pray a lot about it.”
Another character who will also experience suffering in season 5 is the Virgin Mary, played by Vanessa Benavente.
“I still have a hard time understanding exactly how he went through all this,” Benavente told CNA. “She knows that her son has to fulfill his mission, but at the same time he is her son. “It is that where you, as a mother, have to learn to let your children go, but in this case, you know that you are letting them go to do something that is to fulfill their purpose,” she shared.
“With my 2024 brain, being a mother myself, it’s so huge, it’s so big, and I always think that her faith must have been just as big, because it’s literally every mother’s nightmare what’s going to happen in the next few seasons.” .
Regarding season 5 of The Chosenan official release date has yet to be announced, but fans can expect it to premiere in 2025.
You can read more about the announcements made at ChosenCon regarding new projects here.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Francesca Pollio Fenton
Francesca Pollio Fenton is the Social Media Manager at Catholic News Agency. He received his bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis in Digital Media from the University of Colorado, Denver (United States).