By any measure, “The Chosen”—the first multi-episode television series about the life of Jesus Christ and His followers—is a global phenomenon. Viewed by over 70 million people worldwide, the series has been seen in over 180 countries and translated into 70 languages. While “The Chosen” is a bona fide success for creator and director Dallas Jenkins, the series’ beginnings were rooted in failure.
“I had done a big Hollywood feature film that ultimately bombed at the box office,” said Jenkins. “I had gone from, in just a couple of hours, a director with a very bright future to a director with no future.”
Amidst the uncertainty of where his career was to go, Jenkins received an inspired message that changed his life.
The concept he learned changed the course of his life; not only professionally, but spiritually: “it’s not your job to feed the five thousand, it’s only your job to provide the loaves and fish,” Jenkins said. “All I want to do is whatever God wants from me. And all I have to give are the loaves and fish that I can bring to Him, and the rest is up to Him.”
While filming Season 2 of “The Chosen” in Goshen, Utah, on the Jerusalem set owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jenkins is reminded of how far he has come since that day when he thought his filmmaking career was over, and how important “The Chosen” has become to millions of believers around the world.
To celebrate the Christmas season, Jenkins assembled some of today’s leading Christian music artists to celebrate the birth of the Savior, shooting musical performances on the Goshen set.
“Christmas with The Chosen” is a feature-length special that includes performances by Grammy winner Mandisa, Dove Award winner Matt Maher, the platinum-selling group Hillsong UNITED, Grammy-winning duo for KING & COUNTRY, YouTube megastars The Piano Guys, vocal group The Bonner Family, and Grammy, Dove and Billboard Music Award winner Chris Tomlin.
The special also features the original short film “The Shepherd,” a stirring dramatic retelling of the Nativity story, which was birthed from became the inspiration for “The Chosen;” spoken word performances by cast members Nene Nwoko, Noah James, George Harrison Xanthis, and Yoshi Barrigas; and a special first look at footage from Season 2.
“Christmas with The Chosen” separates itself from the usual holiday fare in a way that inspires and uplifts. It encourages us to ponder and reflect on the true meaning of the season in a way that only “The Chosen” can deliver.
Watch an encore performance of “Christmas with The Chosen” on Sunday, December 20 at 12:00 pm MT, or stream anytime for free on the BYUtv app or on BYUtv.org.