TLDR: The Chosen is a crowdfunded faith-based drama about the life of Jesus Christ that has attracted over 280 million viewers worldwide, making it one of the most-watched independent streaming productions in history. Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus.
Shahar Isaac plays Simon Peter. Season 5 released theatrically in March 2025 and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video in July 2025.
Season 6 is in pre-production as of 2026.
The show now streams on The Chosen app, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock after splitting from its original distributor Angel Studios.
The Chosen started as something the entertainment industry does not usually produce: a genuinely good faith-based drama. Creator Dallas Jenkins, son of Left Behind author Jerry Jenkins, wanted to make biblical storytelling that treated its audience as adults.
He crowdfunded a pilot, broke records as the largest crowdfunded media project in history, and built a show that eventually attracted Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
The cast he assembled is as interesting as the show itself. An Israeli-American IDF veteran plays the lead apostle. A South Asian actor portrays Matthew as neurodivergent.
A broke, government-assistance-dependent Catholic actor from New York plays Jesus three months after falling to his knees and surrendering his career to God. Here is who they are.
Jonathan Roumie as Jesus: The Actor Who Hit Rock Bottom First
Jonathan Roumie was born on July 1, 1974, in New York City, to a father of Syro-Lebanese descent raised in Cairo and a mother from Fermanagh, Ireland.
His paternal great-grandparents were Armenian. He was baptized Greek Orthodox and later converted to Roman Catholicism.
He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with a degree in film and spent years working behind the camera as a production assistant and location scout on films including Spider-Man, National Treasure, and I Am Legend. His early acting work was mostly voiceover and minor television roles on The Good Wife, As the World Turns, and Castle.
He moved to Los Angeles and spent eight years struggling to sustain his career, eventually relying on government assistance.
In May 2018, broke and out of options, Roumie describes falling to his knees in surrender, relinquishing his career anxieties to God.
Three months later, Dallas Jenkins called him.
Jenkins had previously cast Roumie in a small church film project and now wanted him to play Jesus in the pilot of The Chosen.
Roumie has spoken publicly about the psychological weight of the role, describing frequent feelings of unworthiness that he addresses through prayer, fasting, and spiritual preparation.
Beyond the show, Roumie portrays the charismatic evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution, narrates the Catholic prayer app Hallow, and serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.
In 2024, the Catholic University of America awarded him an honorary doctorate in fine arts for his contributions to evangelization through the arts.
Shahar Isaac as Simon Peter: The IDF Veteran Playing the Lead Apostle
Shahar Isaac was born in February 1993 in Haifa, Israel, of Yemenite Jewish heritage. He completed compulsory military service in the Israel Defense Forces before moving to the United States, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts.
He made his television debut in 2015 on Person of Interest and appeared in CBS’s Madam Secretary in 2018 before being cast as Simon Peter. On set, his fluency in Hebrew, Spanish, and Portuguese has made him a dialect coach for other cast members.
He published a photo-art book titled The Road Begins in Capernaum inspired by his time filming the series and recurred as an Israeli Krav Maga instructor in the sixth season of The Good Fight on Paramount+.
Following the October 7 attacks in Israel, Isaac used his platform in early 2025 to advocate publicly for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene: The Role Trauma Survivors Call Their Own
Elizabeth Tabish plays Mary Magdalene, whose arc in The Chosen begins with a character named Lilith before her transformation into a restored follower of Jesus.
The portrayal focuses heavily on psychological trauma, redemption, and emotional vulnerability. Tabish has received consistent messages from viewers experiencing grief and personal recovery who describe her performance as therapeutically meaningful.
She remains a central cast member through Season 5 and is confirmed for Season 6.
Paras Patel as Matthew: The Autistic Apostle Who Changed How Fans See the Show
Paras Patel, an actor of South Asian descent, plays Matthew the Apostle. The Chosen depicts Matthew as being on the autism spectrum, characterized by meticulous organization, social alienation, and an obsessive attention to detail.
The decision to portray a biblical figure as neurodivergent generated significant discussion among critics and viewers when the show launched.
Patel has said publicly that playing Matthew has given him his “purpose as an artist.” He regularly receives messages from neurodivergent individuals and their families who describe the character as the first representation that made them feel seen in a faith-based context.
He remains in the main cast through Season 5 and into the planning stages of Season 6.
Noah James (Andrew) and George H. Xanthis (John)
Noah James, raised in Tempe, Arizona, and currently based in Los Angeles, plays Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. His portrayal emphasizes Andrew as a diplomatic, loyal, and anxious peacemaker within the group of disciples.
George H. Xanthis plays John, the youngest of the apostles and one of the Sons of Thunder. The character arc across the seasons follows John’s evolution from an ambitious, glory-seeking young man to a disciple focused on love and intimacy.
Both actors have maintained consistent presence since Season 1 and are confirmed for the show’s eventual conclusion.
Dallas Jenkins: The Creator Who Built a Billion-Dollar Faith Show From Nothing
Dallas Jenkins is the creator, director, and co-writer of The Chosen and founder of 5&2 Studios. He is the son of Jerry B. Jenkins, the evangelical co-author of the Left Behind novel series, which gave him deep roots in Christian media from childhood.
Before The Chosen, he worked as a faith-based filmmaker in a sector he has described as historically associated with low-quality, “embarrassing” productions. His stated mission was to elevate the artistic standard of faith-based storytelling.
The show began as a crowdfunded pilot and became the largest crowdfunded media project in history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenkins made the show available entirely for free, introducing a pay-it-forward model that drove exponential viewership growth and financial contributions.
The show’s original distributor was VidAngel, a platform founded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This connection drew early criticism from Protestant and Catholic audiences questioning whether Mormon theology influenced the content.
Jenkins has addressed this publicly, stating that the LDS partners acted strictly as distributors and that the show is written and directed from an evangelical perspective.
The show has since split from Angel Studios, VidAngel’s successor, and now distributes independently through The Chosen app and major streaming platforms.
Where The Chosen Stands in 2026
Season 5, covering the events of Holy Week leading up to the Last Supper, released theatrically on March 28, 2025, before streaming on Amazon Prime Video from July 15, 2025.
Season 6 is currently in active development as part of the show’s planned seven-season arc.
The show streams on The Chosen app, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock. Total worldwide viewership has been estimated at over 280 million.
There have been no major cast deaths, health-related departures, or permanent recasts among the core cast through Season 5.
Who plays Jesus in The Chosen?
Jonathan Roumie plays Jesus of Nazareth in The Chosen. Born July 1, 1974, in New York City, Roumie is a devout Roman Catholic of Syro-Lebanese and Irish heritage. He spent eight years struggling as an actor in Los Angeles, relying on government assistance, before being cast three months after what he describes as a moment of spiritual surrender in May 2018. He has received an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of America for his work on the show.
Where can I watch The Chosen?
The Chosen is available on The Chosen app, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Peacock as of 2026. The show originally distributed through Angel Studios but terminated that agreement and now manages distribution independently through 5&2 Studios. Season 5 began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on July 15, 2025. Season 6 is currently in pre-production.
How many seasons of The Chosen are there?
The Chosen has completed five seasons as of 2026. Season 5, covering Holy Week leading up to the Last Supper, released theatrically on March 28, 2025, and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on July 15, 2025. The show is planned for seven seasons total, with Season 6 currently in active development.
Is The Chosen a Mormon show?
No. The Chosen was created, written, and directed by Dallas Jenkins from an evangelical Christian perspective. The show’s original distributor, VidAngel, was founded by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which led to early questions about theological influence. Jenkins has stated publicly that the LDS partners acted strictly as distributors and had no influence over the show’s content. The production has since split from Angel Studios and distributes independently.
Who plays Simon Peter in The Chosen?
Shahar Isaac plays Simon Peter in The Chosen. Born in February 1993 in Haifa, Israel, of Yemenite Jewish heritage, Isaac served in the Israel Defense Forces before moving to the United States to study acting at Rutgers University. He is trilingual in Hebrew, Spanish, and Portuguese and serves as a dialect coach for other cast members on set.
