In this edition of faith & family media news: The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins announces a new Christmas (or Epiphany) special; new films look at faith in song, and Eucharistic Adoration; and House of David announces the end of the Biblical saga.
In a surprise announcement during a Sept. 20 livestream, The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins revealed that the series -- whose sixth season premieres on Prime Video in November -- that there would be a new, standalone Christmas special ... airing on Fox.
This marks the second time that a Chosen Christmas episode has been on a broadcast network. On Dec. 23, 2022, The CW aired The Messengers, another standalone Christmas-themed episode, which was in theaters in 2021 as a Fathom Event.
That partnership -- born out of a relationship between Jenkins and CW head Brad Schwartz -- led to The CW airing seasons of the series on Sunday nights. Prime Video has streaming exclusivity for the show, but that doesn't cover broadcast. So, we'll have to see if this new situation with Fox proves to be more than a one-off.
From ChurchLeaders.com:
“This is an opportunity to get even more of ‘The Chosen’ out to new audiences,” Jenkins said. “It’s going to be on national television in December. A really cool opportunity to broadcast this to a big audience.”
Explaining that the episde will flow "directly with Season 6 into Season 7," Jenkins further said, that "
that storylines introduced during Season 6 will pay off in “The Three Kings,” while events in the Christmas special will help set the stage for “The Chosen”‘s upcoming crucifixion feature film, which is scheduled for theatrical release in 2027.
“So, when you’re watching the crucifixion movie, which you will be in theaters in 2027, some of the things you’ve seen in this Christmas episode will inform what you see in the crucifixion feature film. It’s quite a thing,” he said.
Apparently the Three Kings storyline expanded too much to be included in the series, so Jenkins decided to create a standalone Christmas -- or actually, Epiphany -- special.
As previously announced, the first six episodes of The Chosen Season 6 premiere on Prime Video in mid-November. The Chosen: The Three Kings airs on Fox in December. Then, the two-hour episode depicting the Crucifixion comes to theaters on March 12, 2027, as a film distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.
Season 7, which recently wrapped filming, deals with the aftermath of the Crucifixion and Christ's (Jonathan Roumie) Resurrection.
Here's the relevant section of the livestream:
In the wake of a family tragedy, Kentucky-born singer Anne Wilson renewed her faith and began writing and performing Christian music. That story became a book called My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope, and now that book is becoming a movie.
From Deadline.com:
A new film inspired by Anne Wilson‘s hit song “Anne Wilson” is gearing up to begin production next month, with Aliza Kate Barlow making her feature debut starring as the Christian country singer. My Jesus, which hails from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company (I Can Only Imagine, Jesus Revolution), also stars Gavin Casalegno (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Monica Potter (Parenthood), Charles Esten (Outer Banks) and Gavin Casalegno (Matlock).
Kay Oyegun wrote the screenplay based on Wilson’s book My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope, and will make her feature directorial debut.
This is the semi-autobiographical music video for the song My Jesus:
In other faith news, Adore Him, the new film from the executive producer of Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist, hits theaters on Oct. 4-8 as a Fathom Event.
The synopsis reads:
ADORE HIM is a new documentary feature film that invites you to enter the very presence of God. Through cinematic reenactments that span salvation history and intimate modern-day interviews from around the world, this film explores the transforming power of meeting the Creator of the Universe face to face.
From encountering the Ark of the Covenant as it traveled across the wilderness to bumping into Jesus as he taught in the marketplace, this story builds to a culmination in the Eucharist, and today millions are finding out how much God truly loves them as they adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament.
Among those appearing in the film are Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Archbishop José Gómez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Bishop Robert Reed, Auxiliary, Archdiocese of Boston; Father Robert Spitzer, S.J.; Chris Stefanik of Real Life Catholic; and Barbara Heil of From His Heart Ministries.
Executive producer is Deacon Steve Greco of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry; Don Johnson directs.
Tickets are available here.
From Variety:
The Biblical epic series “House of David” is now in production on Season 3, which will officially be the show’s last.
Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios made the announcement on Friday, with the show currently shooting in Greece. The third season renewal was announced back in July, though it was not known to be the final season at the time. The creators had previously said they imagined the series as a three-season story.
“We’re incredibly grateful to be back in Greece with the cast and crew who’ve given everything to this story,” said executive producers Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn. “Season Three brings us to the final season of this trilogy – the chapter of David’s life we set out to tell from the very beginning.
"We’re honored to finish it alongside our partners at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, and we hope audiences feel just how far David has come by the time his story reaches the throne.”
The official logline for Season 3 says:
David’s transformation from outcast shepherd to fierce warrior to chosen King is finally complete. But before the throne, there is exile. David is a hunted outlaw, forced to hide among his enemies and live yet another dangerous lie. This chapter explores the true cost of destiny — the betrayals endured, the identities shed, and the sacrifices demanded of a hero before he can rise to the throne.
There's no announced premiere date for Season 3 of House of David, but speculation puts it at late 2026 or early 2027. If it follows the current pattern, episodes will debut first as part of the Wonder Project subscription -- an additional-cost add-in to Prime Video -- and then later move to the broader Prime Video audience.
Here's the trailer for Season 2, which picked up after David slew Goliath:
Image: Prime Video
Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Content Manager and Blog Editor at Family Theater Productions.
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