Season 5 of ‘The Chosen’: ‘We’re getting closer and closer to the cross,’ show’s creator says

CNA Staff, Oct 13, 2024 / 06:00 am

When fans of the hit series “The Chosen” gathered at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida, for the second annual “ChosenCon” in late September, CNA spoke with the creator and several of the cast members on the teal carpet about the future of the show and what fans can expect from Season 5, which focuses on the events of Holy Week.

Dallas Jenkins, the show’s creator, director, and writer, told CNA that Season 5 is “sad at times; it’s actually heartbreaking at times because we know we’re getting closer and closer to the cross … We’re going to get to see some iconic moments from Scripture, but we’re also going to, I believe, be drawn closer to who Jesus was because of his suffering.”

Ryan Swanson, one of the writers of “The Chosen,” added that Season 5 is “truly going to feel like a different kind of series. After Season 4’s dread and doom and foreshadowing, this is when the wick is lit.”

When asked how the writers prepare to portray the important and historical events of Holy Week, Swanson emphasized the importance of relying on Scripture and pointed out that “as much as 30% of the Scriptures is about this week.”

“We get a huge assist from the Bible because there’s no other part of it that’s written as chronologically and as clearly as to the events of the week in time as this week. So all of that stuff is laid out for us,” he said. “I think our challenge becomes how do we tell it in a new way, especially to the initiate.”

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to tell the story honestly, factually, historically, but also to give it that ‘Chosen’ twist of what were these moments like for people who would’ve been there,” Swanson explained.

Knowing what lies ahead for her character and the impactful moments she is a part of, Elizabeth Tabish, the actress who portrays Mary Magdalene, shared that she has “tried to not think about that too much.”

“It’s daunting and I really want to do it well and honor that moment in the Gospels. So, I think I’m a little nervous,” she said. “In terms of preparation, I think I’m just going to pray a lot about it.”

Another character who will also be experiencing suffering in Season 5 is Mother Mary, portrayed by Vanessa Benavente.

“I still struggle to find exactly how she must’ve gone through this,” Benavente told CNA.

“She knows that her son has to fulfill his mission, but at the same time it’s her son. It’s that thing where you as a mother you have to learn how to let go of your children, but in this case, you know you’re letting him go do something that is to meet his end,” she shared.

“With my 2024 brain, being a mother myself, it’s so humongous, it’s so big, and I always go down to her faith must’ve been just as big, because it’s literally every mother’s nightmare what she will be going through in the next couple of seasons.”  

As for Season 5 of “The Chosen,” an official release date has not yet been announced but fans can expect it to be released in 2025.

You can read more about the announcements made at ChosenCon regarding new projects here.