By Gavin Boyle
While discussing the crucifixion scene for Season 6 of THE CHOSEN, director and creator Dallas Jenkins revealed filming the death of Jesus occurred in the same spot for his show as THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.
“This is where Mel Gibson filmed PASSION OF THE CHRIST…” Jenkins told PEOPLE about Matera, Italy. “It’s one of the few places in the world that offers a first-century skyline while we’re up on the crosses, but yet it’s still remote.”
Much like was the case for THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, the filming is extremely taxing on the cast and crew. The subject matter was extremely solemn, and the hours they pulled to get the shots were hard.
“The thing about filming the crucifixion is that it is the most physically and logistically challenging thing we’ve ever done,” Jenkins said, adding, “All these things are so physically demanding and logistically challenging that the spiritual and emotional weight of it is competing with the physical and logistical weight of it. And so I don’t really have too much brain space or heart space to make this just all about [the] spiritual and emotional. We have an important job to do. It has to look right, we have to capture it properly.”
While the previous seasons of the show have had their highs and lows emotionally and spiritually, Season 6 promises to take these to new extremes as Jesus completes His walk to his death. Along the way, He gets abandoned by everyone He cares about, rejected by the crowds and physically tortured.
“This is the most difficult thing I think I’ve ever done. It’s the most difficult season,” Jesus actor Jonathan Roumie 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.”
Related: THE CHOSEN Teases Emotional First Look at Crucifixion Scene
As the content becomes even more crucial to the biblical narrative, those working on the show believe the quality of the product has become even better — quite a statement given how well-made THE CHOSEN already is.
“I feel like this will be the best one yet,” Abe Bueno-Jallad, who plays Big James, told Movieguide® of Season 6. “But I say that every year. But the level of preparation that I’m seeing in the actors, the level of focus, the feeling on set.”
Unfortunately, fans have a while to wait until they can watch Season 6. The first part of the season is expected to become available on streaming in late 2026, before the finale releases in theaters on March 12, 2027.
Read Next: THE CHOSEN Crew Braces Fans for ‘Emotional’ Season 6
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