Dallas Jenkins on THE CHOSEN Backlash: ‘We Let the Content Speak for Itself’
By Movieguide® Contributor
The hit series created by Dallas Jenkins, THE CHOSEN, streams to millions across the world.
With millions of unique viewers, Jenkins is no stranger to the comments and criticisms from the public. However, the series recently received backlash over an on-set observation of a pride flag, which many saw as an opportunity to condemn the show as a whole.
Creator, director, and producer Dallas Jenkins told CBN’s Faithwire, “Where do I start? It’s tough to find an article about us that doesn’t have at least one thing wrong, but it’s fine; we really try to focus on the work and let the content speak for itself,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, currently the biggest misconception among a vocal minority is that we were flying a pride flag on set and have gone woke.”
Ultimately, Jenkins reminded fans of his heart behind his creation of THE CHOSEN, “My heart is for people around the world to see an authentic portrayal of Jesus that draws them closer to the Bible and the real Jesus.”
The second controversy that followed THE CHOSEN has been whether the series is a Christian program.
Jenkins assured fans, “Yes, our show itself is Christian, obviously, in that it’s about Christ, has an evangelical Christian perspective, and is made by me, an evangelical. That said, we’ve made clear from the beginning that many of our cast and crew aren’t Christians, and we don’t consider our ‘production’ to be Christian in the sense that we don’t identify our team or our set that way.”
At the end of the day, Jenkins hopes fans focus on what matters most: the content.
“I’ve said all along I’m a flawed, sinful man,” he stated. “So, if you’ve got a spiritual litmus test for our show, it’s best to focus on the content over me.”
THE CHOSEN won Movieguide®’s Epiphany Prize® for uplifting, inspirational entertainment.
Movieguide® recently reported on THE CHOSEN’S partnership with Lionsgate:
Dallas Jenkins, the series writer, producer, and director told CBN’s Faithwire, “Lionsgate is perfect for us,”
He added, “They’re strong and experienced in the areas we’re not, but they also understand what’s unique about us and will protect that. We’ll continue to do what we do best unabated, and they’ll expand our efforts with their tremendous distribution team.”
President of worldwide television distribution for Lionsgate, Jim Packer stated, “no surprise that an artfully crafted story about such an important historical figure, unlike anything done before, would be in great demand.”
Packer added, “The multi-season approach has allowed ‘The Chosen’ to consistently build its audience and generate a unique level of engagement. We’re excited by the opportunity to elevate this incredible property to the next level of worldwide recognition and popularity.”
