THE CHOSEN Star Says These Attributes Explain Show’s Success
By Movieguide® Contributor
Over 5,000 people attended the 2024 ChosenCon in Orlando where fans got to meet and greet with cast and crew from THE CHOSEN.
Noah James, who plays Andrew on the hit show, attended and was particularly touched by the turnout of the event that he called a “love bomb.”
“It feels like a giant family reunion all coming together, and people are just so excited to be here,” James told Movieguide® on the ChosenCon red carpet.
The actor said his favorite moments were being able to talk with fans as they shared how the show personally impacted them.
“I have had a few people…more people than you would think, come up to me and say, ‘You know, I struggle with anxiety. I see myself in your character,’” he revealed. “[T]hen it, it does, it feels like there’s this connection.”
That connection, James said, is the secret of the show’s success. It was picked up by the CW and, as of January 2024, has had over 200 million viewers.
“There’s this, oh, you know, we are telling the story, but we’re also telling people’s stories. They see themselves in THE CHOSEN, and it’s true,” the Los Angeles native said. “I think that’s what the show does so well ’cause it’s so personal, so personable and authentic.”
He also shared with Movieguide® what fans can expect for Season 5, which is slated for an early 2025 release.
“We really feel the wheels on the cart start rolling very quickly, and some of us deal with it better than others,” James said of the upcoming season that will portray Holy Week, leading up to Season 6 which will depict Jesus’ crucifixion.
“It’s a tumultuous, I mean super tumultuous season, which is funny ’cause it actually went quite smoothly to film,” he said.
James who comes from a secular Jewish background said that the show has been an “amazing opportunity” to better understand the teachings of Jesus.
“Being at the Sermon on the Mount and hearing, ‘You have heard that you should love your neighbors, but I say love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you,’” he said in a Hope 103.2 interview. “Those are messages that are very difficult to live by and even understand and hearing those from the outside. It’s really been special to better understand what it is that so many people around the world try to live by and set their sort of aim at.”
THE CHOSEN’S new studio 5&2 announced their new show THE CHOSEN IN THE WILD, where Noah, as well as some other cast members, will team up with survivalist Bear Grylls to rough it out in the wild.
James posted a glimpse on social media of what audiences can anticipate for the upcoming show.
“So uh…. I went on an adventure with @beargrylls. NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY THAT,” the 35-year-old posted. “It was incredible, he’s incredible, obviously at everything he does on camera, but I think people will also really enjoy our conversation out in the wild. We got into a deep discussion about life, spirituality, and forging ahead despite the obstacles in your way. I can’t wait for everyone to see CHOSEN IN THE WILD, it’s the real deal.”
Movieguide® previously reported more on THE CHOSEN IN THE WILD:
“CHOSEN IN THE WILD is me taking some of the most loved actors on THE CHOSEN out into the great outdoors, having an adventure with them and getting to know their story along the way,” Grylls told Movieguide®. “It’s what I do for, you know, our normal network show, the RUNNING WILD show; we do it with Hollywood folk and sports stars and musicians.”
“We’ve never done a kind of spinoff of it before, which I suppose is what this is. You know, it is a beautiful collaboration with a really powerful brand of people doing something incredible in the world. So, I’m really proud of it,” he continued.
As with Grylls’ other shows, CHOSEN IN THE WILD provides a real, honest look at the actors as their guard comes down while they take on a survival adventure. Grylls, however, is extremely proud of this show because it digs deep into the faith of the cast of THE CHOSEN.
“I think you will be really surprised at actually the personal journeys of faith that the actors have been on just through this experience of acting it out [on THE CHOSEN],” Grylls said. “You know, I haven’t met any of them to whom it’s just a job. And that’s rare. Most people are — you go and sit on a panel of, you know, a TV show; it’s all just a job. They might love it and have fun, but this is different.”
