THE CHOSEN Teases Emotional First Look at Crucifixion Scene

Published: June 27, 2025

Jonathan Roumie, THE CHOSEN Season 5 premiere — Movieguide® THE CHOSEN Season 5 Premiere Red Carpet Photo

By Michaela Gordoni

THE CHOSEN’s official YouTube channel just released a first look at filming the hardest scene the team will ever film — Jesus’ crucifixion.

In the new video, costumes get sewn, crosses get made, (fake) blood is poured and actors weep in the Italian town of Matera.

“Here’s a glimpse at the blood, sweat and tears going into making the hardest scene and season in the whole CHOSEN series…and it’s going to be so worth it,” the video’s caption reads.

The teaser shows director Dallas Jenkins demonstrating how he wants one of the actors to lie on a cross. It shows scuffles between Roman soldiers and Mary Magdalene in shock, falling to her knees as she watches soldiers nail Jesus’ hands to the cross. The disciples all stand with tears running down their faces.

After the scene is over, Jenkins hugs everyone, all with tears in their eyes. At the end, Jenkins wife, Amanda, runs up to him with arms outstretched. The director, filled with emotion, buries his face in her shoulder.

There’s no glimpse of Jonathon Roumie on the cross as Jesus — they’re saving that for later.

After filming, Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene, said through tears, “It’s just pure devastation, to watch your friend be paraded through the streets and mocked, and publicly executed. He never hurt anyone, you know. So there’s a lot of grief.

Roumie called acting as Jesus in Season 6 “brutal.”

“This is the most difficult thing I think I’ve ever done. It’s the most difficult season,” he said. “It’s the most difficult role, and this being the most difficult role in the most difficult season, with the physicality that is expected, that I feel is expected, and that ultimately we will portray during Christ’s suffering and death — His passion — I don’t know anything else that could be more challenging to me as a performer.”

He, like many who work on the show, believes the series will draw people to the Bible and Christ.

“This is all just an offering to Him and for souls and for reaching people on a level that they haven’t reached,” he said.

He previously said of portraying Jesus, “My cup runneth over with gratitude and thanksgiving for all the Lord has done in my life. Seven years ago today, my life utterly changed for the better. I had no idea what God was up to or how unbelievably far He would take me in service to Him.”

“As a flawed and imperfect human being…I’m truly unworthy of the honor of playing the most perfectly Divine/Human Christ, but I will humbly continue to accept this mission for as long as He will allow me to do so,” he said.

Jesus’ crucifixion will be revealed in Season 6. The season will premiere in theaters on March 12, 2027.

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