Why This Actor Agreed to Take on the Role of One of the Ultimate Biblical Villains
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE CHOSEN star Luke Dimyan recently opened up about his character, Judas, and why it’s important to him to play the role with “empathy and emotion.”
“I think he loves very deeply,” Dimyan said in a video posted on the show’s YouTube channel. “Like, he truly, with all his heart, has no ulterior motives. He will wear his heart on his sleeve. He’s loud, he’s not very cunning, he’s just honest — although, sometimes maybe his honesty can be a bit abrasive and can get him into trouble sometimes.”
The actor joked, “It’s interesting to see how little he has to really offer the group. He has ideas and then everybody’s like, ‘No, those are terrible!’”
Dimyan explained that Judas has “an overwhelming frustration” that leaves him unable “to connect to anything,” adding, “I think it’s, like, this huge affection and obsession that is not reciprocated.”
“This is a man who is walking with Jesus, literally right next to Him, but didn’t understand any of His teachings,” he said.
Despite Judas’ later betrayal of Jesus, Dimyan shared that it’s important to him “to infuse this character with as much empathy and emotion that I can.”
“I think that’s all just bubbling up and culminating to the ultimate break of what Season 5 is going to walk into, which is the grand welcome of Jerusalem and then the ultimate misdirection reveal of what Jesus is there to do,” he finished.
Dimyan has frequently discussed what it’s like to portray Judas Iscariot, and is always quick to emphasize his humanity.
“I think what’s been fascinating about playing Judas is that we all know where his story ends, but THE CHOSEN really takes the time to show how he gets there,” the actor told Collider. “He’s not some evil mastermind — he’s just a guy trying to figure things out, and sometimes, he gets it wrong.”
In an interview with People, Dimyan said that he has long been interested in Judas’ layers.
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“I always loved the Old Testament growing up,” he explained. “I read my Bible, I understood the stories, and I was very aware of them before I was cast in THE CHOSEN. To me personally, I’ve always felt like there was more to Judas than just greed or devil manipulation and mind control.”
He continued, “In every dogmatic sense, you are just meant to hate Judas. But with Judas, if it was all about money, if it was all about greed, he could have left. He didn’t. His betrayal couldn’t even make it past the trial. He couldn’t even make it to the crucifixion.”
“He lost everything,” Dimyan concluded. “And when you’re filled with such despair, with such depression, with such heartache, that you inevitably take your own life, I feel like that’s something to mourn. It’s heartbreaking.”
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