The highly anticipated Season Four of the popular series "The Chosen" is set to make its debut in theaters on February 1, marking a significant shift as the entire season will be exclusively shown in cinemas before its release on streaming platforms.
The theatrical release will unfold in three phases, with Episodes 1–3 premiering on February 1, followed by Episodes 4–6 on February 15, and Episodes 7–8 starting on February 29. Fathom Events will handle distribution in the U.S. and Canada. After the theatrical run, the season will become available on streaming services, including "The Chosen" app, broadcast, and cable TV.
In a recent interview with CNA, Dallas Jenkins, the creator, director, and co-writer of "The Chosen," gave insights into what viewers can anticipate in Season Four. While Season Three focused on the theme "Come to me all of you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest," Jenkins revealed that this season would depict Jesus as feeling weary and heavy laden himself, seeking rest that eludes him from those around him, including his closest friends.
Despite the increased gravity of the content, Jenkins reassured fans that Season Four would still feature moments of community, faith, miracles, laughter, and friendship. Without divulging spoilers, he highlighted Episode 7 as a personal favorite, containing a scene with Mary Magdalene that he believes will profoundly impact viewers.
One scene teased in the trailer involves a group of Roman soldiers encountering Jesus and the disciples. Jenkins explained that this scene embodies Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where he encouraged going the extra mile (Matthew 5:41). The director emphasized the historical context of Romans imposing heavy packs on Jews to carry for a limited distance, a situation vividly depicted in the upcoming season.
Jenkins justified the decision to premiere the entire season in theaters, stating that the scale, depth of themes, and larger stories demanded a collective viewing experience. He expressed the belief that people should gather, especially in divisive times, to share the emotional weight of the season.
In a message to fans ahead of Season Four, Jenkins urged viewers not to miss the crucial lessons, drawing parallels to Jesus's friends and followers who, despite explicit warnings, focused on personal ambitions rather than the impending events. He emphasized the need for contemporary audiences to prioritize the Gospel over individual pursuits and fame, reflecting on the hindsight available to today's viewers.