After a successful theatrical run in April, Season Five of The Chosen will begin streaming on Prime Video (the proper name for Amazon Prime Video) on June 15.
The new season, titled The Chosen: The Last Supper, focuses on the time leading up to Jesus' Crucifixion –- that is, on events surrounding the Last Supper, Judas' betrayal, and Jesus' (played by Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie) heartfelt prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Meet Big James
I had the opportunity to talk recently with Abe Bueno-Jallad, actor who plays the character of Big James (James, the son of Zebedee) in the most recent episodes of the series.
As the third actor cast in the role of Big James since the series' beginning, Bueno-Jallad explained, he had worried about filling a role which had already been developed.
Was he, he wondered, placed there to provide comedic relief, like a big bubbly bear –- or was his character going to bring a sort of dramatic tension? Director Dallas Jenkins completely freed him of that concern, instead encouraging him to approach the role with his own instincts.
“Hopefully,” Bueno-Jallad said, “I have taken the character of Big James away from anything that is recognizable, and made it fully my own.”
Bueno-Jallad predicted that viewers will recognize the great impact that Jesus' Passion and death have on Big James, and on the other Apostles.
“Maybe not in the first episode,” Bueno-Jallad predicts, “but [in the second episode of the season], people will be able to see the impact it has on James, when he finally realizes that this is truly the Last Supper, the last time they'll be together.”
Bueno-Jallad smiled as he offered an analogy for the Apostles' lack of understanding, saying, “I have asked, 'How do you tell your dog that this is going to be the last time?' You can't! In the same way, Jesus is trying to tell us, the Apostles; but we don't get it, and we never will -– because Jesus has a divine knowledge that we will never have.
"So there's a lack of communication there: Jesus is speaking things that we cannot possibly make sense of. We just don't understand what's ahead.”
Immersion in the World of the Bible
Bueno-Jallad is a devout Christian, and he reported that playing the role of Big James has deepened his faith.
“There are the obvious reasons,” he said. “Having to go back to reread the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of John -– getting back into the books of the Bible had an effect on me. And having to put myself into the mindset of someone who doesn't already know the outcome –- the Old Covenant mindset.”
Bueno-Jallad had never thought about what life was like for the early followers of Jesus. He began to understand what First Century life was like –- how they lived without the modern conveniences that we take for granted, how their work was grueling and they had to walk everywhere.
With a new vision for the early Church, Bueno-Jallad realized that they must have been very tired under those circumstances.
Like many of us, Bueno-Jallad had always focused more on Jesus' divinity, while taking for granted His humanity. In the role of Big James, Bueno-Jallad came to concentrate more on Jesus' humanity.
“The humanity,” Bueno-Jallad explained, “is where the mercy's at, the deep humility and the things He put Himself through for us. And understanding that, the mercy makes a lot more sense.”
Bueno-Jallad offered another, more personal reason for how he has been changed by playing the role of James. The role required a deep attention and emotional focus; there is, he said, a real sacrifice.
“I am not saying that I wouldn't have the luxury of putting on fake tears,” Bueno-Jallad said. “But I have this beautiful opportunity! I'm going to try my darnedest to give you, the audience, something real. Something that is moved through my human soul, and is serving a higher purpose on the screen.”
The Chosen: The Last Supper Rolls Out Gradually on Prime Video
Bueno-Jallad offered an explanation for why the Season Five shows will be released to streaming in groups, rather than unloaded all at once for those who might like to immerse themselves in the story.
“We're trying to do what we were trying to do in the theater,” Bueno-Jallad said, “which is to give it to you piecemeal. And I think that for Season Five, that's particularly important. It's a little heavier than what our fans are used to!”
Here's the Prime Video release schedule:
- June 15: Episodes 1 and 2
- June 22: Episodes 3, 4, and 5
- June 29: Episodes 6, 7, and 8
The Last Supper stories, Bueno-Jallad felt, should be digested carefully. The story pulls people in, but viewers will lean forward with tears in their eyes. Given the harsh content, Bueno-Jallad thought that this might not be the season that you'll want to watch with your family in the living room.
Given the season's focus on the Last Supper and Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, I talked with Bueno-Jallad about the differences between Catholic and Protestant interpretations of the Bread of Life discourse.
In Episode 6 of The Chosen: The Last Supper, Jesus breaks the bread and passes it to the Apostles, and then drinks wine and shares it with them. Of the bread, He says, “Take and eat it. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” And when He drinks the wine, he says, “Drink it, all of you, in remembrance of me.”
In this scene, Catholics and Orthodox will recognize the words of transubstantiation and will understand that these words and this action are repeated in every Mass and Divine Liturgy. Protestants may have a different idea, believing that Jesus was only speaking metaphorically and that the bread and wine are only a symbol.
Bueno-Jallad acknowledged the different interpretations, but assured me that The Chosen's focus is not on one interpretation over another, but instead is simply trying to present the Bible story accurately. If people have questions about what they see in the film, Bueno-Jallad concludes, it's always a good idea to go back to the Bible, or to take those questions back to their faith community.
“Catholics,” Bueno-Jallad said, “talk to your priest! Those are always good things.”
The Rest of the Story
The first two episodes of The Chosen's Season Five will be available for streaming on Prime Video on June 15, with the remaining episodes on subsequent Sundays.
We don't yet have a premiere date for Season Six on Prime Video -- Jenkins has said that it may be late 2026 -- but it has been announced that the Season-Six finale, portraying the Crucifixion of Christ, will release in theaters on March 12, 2027.
And preferring to end the series on a happy note, Season Seven -- the final one planned -- focuses on the Resurrection of Christ. The season premiere releases to theaters on March 31, 2028, with the rest of that season then coming to Prime Video.
Both of these theatrical offerings are designed as standalone movies, while still being part of the larger series.
Image: Prime Video
Kathy Schiffer writes regularly for the National Catholic Register and Catholic World Report, and for other Catholic publications, including Evangelization and Culture, Crisis Magazine, Aleteia, Zenit, the Michigan Catholic, and Legatus Magazine. She’s worked for Catholic and other Christian ministries since 1988, as radio producer, director of special events, and media-relations coordinator.
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