The Chosen sponsored its third edition of ChosenCon, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in February -- and Family Theater Productions' own Father David Guffey, C.S.C., was a featured participant.
So, What Is a ChosenCon, Anyway?
Now, conventions centered on TV shows or movies aren't unusual. What's less common is having already had three of them when the show has only been on for seven years.
And not only that, the series based on the Gospels was only available on an app at the beginning, and just landed as an official original series on a major streamer (Prime Video) last year.
This is not normal for TV. But, then, very little of what's happened to The Chosen -- now a worldwide hit translated into a Guinness World Record of 125 languages -- has been the way things usually go in TV.
Like all entertainment-related conventions, ChosenCon offers fans the opportunity to meet each other, hear actors, writers, producers and others speak in panel discussions; see special videos and presentations; and meet and take pictures with their favorites (and buy merch, of course).
Not many showbiz conventions, though, offer Scripture commentary.
The Chosen's Bible Roundtables
One of the many thing that makes The Chosen stand out, even from other Bible-inspired entertainment, is its commitment to Scripture and ecumenical dialogue.
Since the beginning, each episode has had a companion Bible Roundtable discussion, available on The Chosen App and the website (where all the episodes can also be watched for free -- eventually).
And for all but one of those seasons of Bible Roundtables, FTP's own National Director, Father David Guffey, C.S.C., has been a participant (Bishop Robert Barron stepped in for Season Two).
In addition, Father Guffey is one of the experts who offers notes on scripts prior to production (as with all consultants' suggestions, some are heeded, and some are not).
Seeing Father Guffey Live on Stage at ChosenCon
In addition to taping the Roundtables, Father Guffey has been a regular at ChosenCon, doing live Roundtables on stage with series creator Dallas Jenkins and his fellow participants.
Last month, I made a whirlwind trip to Charlotte to do interviews on the teal carpet (more on that later), and to watch Father Guffey in action in front of a gigantic crowd (the photo only captures part of it).
After the Roundtable, it was challenging getting Father Guffey out of the room, because of the number of fans that kept coming up wanting to meet him.
Suffice to say, among The Chosen fans, Father Guffey is a bit of a rockstar. He's not at the level of Jenkins or star Jonathan Roumie, the Catholic actor who plays Jesus, but he's up there.
A Priest Reflects on Live Chosen Bible Roundtable
I asked Father Guffey to reflect on the experience, and here's what he had to say:
Some years ago, a friend of a friend asked me to read some scripts for a television series about the Apostles and then critique them from the perspective of a Catholic, like, “Any red flags? Any elements that would especially appeal?” And so forth.
I read the scripts and offered notes, but overall I really enjoyed them. My thought at the time was that they would never get made.
That was before I knew of the force that is Dallas Jenkins and his tight team of creators and producers.
ChosenCon is proof how wrong I was. At the gathering thousands of people sat in talks about the making of the series, about the impact of the series, and so forth.
I was part of the Live Chosen Bible Roundtable, joining Messianic Jewish Rabbi Jason Sobel, and evangelical Bible scholar Dr. Douglas Huffman, and Dallas, for deeper dives into the Biblical theology of the episodes.
Again, when we did the first one, I wondered if anyone would ever watch. Wrong again.
The Bible Roundtable videos became a popular resource for Chosen fans. I have enjoyed the conversations and apparently so have audiences.
When I walked through the halls of the Convention Center in Charlotte last month, person after person came to talk and take pictures with me.
Many shared stories of watching the Roundtables with their family or church prayer groups.
One person told me than after watching The Chosen, she had returned to the Church.
Another person shared how her teen son enjoyed watching the series with her, voluntarily!
A few said that the Roundtables were as important to them as the episodes themselves. The convention hall where the live Roundtable took place was full and responsive to our discussions.
One of the most important aspects of the Roundtable is that we demonstrate that civil conversation is possible around nuanced issues of faith.
They also demonstrate the kind of unity possible when we focus on Jesus Christ.
The Chosen series leads people to imagine together what it would have been like to be present with Jesus when He walked among us.
That leads us all to say how can we be present to Jesus as he presents himself to us know in the Word, in our actions and, for Catholics, in the Sacraments.
The Chosen has pointed people to go their Bibles and read, to pray, and to share stories with others.
A Look at ChosenCon 2026
Here's a quick recap of the convention from the perspective of Catherine Lidstone, who plays Mary of Bethany (Martha's sister).
Many replays of sessions from ChosenCon are available (for a fee) at the website, but a few have been posted at the show's YouTube channel. Here's one:
What's Next for The Chosen?
The first six episodes of Season Six of The Chosen, which focuses on the final 24 hours of Christ's life on Earth, a k a Good Friday, is expected to premiere this fall on Prime Video.
The season finale, centered on the Crucifixion itself, is planned to be released as a theatrical event in Spring 2027, to coincide with the Easter season.
Images: Family Theater Productions
Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.
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