Netflix US has quietly secured the streaming rights to the first season of the immensely popular faith-based series, ‘The Chosen.’
This groundbreaking series, created by Dallas Jenkins, takes a fresh perspective on the life of Jesus Christ, with the talented Jonathan Roumie portraying the central role of the Son of God. The ensemble cast also includes Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, and Noah James.
In a move that went largely unnoticed by the public, the streaming giant added ‘The Chosen’ to its library without any formal promotion, likely due to the sensitive religious nature of the content. Presently, Netflix has made only eight out of the 26 episodes from the first season available on its platform. It remains uncertain whether the remaining episodes will be added in the future.
Originally, ‘The Chosen’ was exclusively accessible through a dedicated website and app provided by VidAngel. The series built its brand through an innovative financial model, relying on online crowdfunding. The makers encouraged viewers to ‘pay it forward,’ enabling another user to watch an episode for free.
This approach proved remarkably successful, as in 2017, ‘The Chosen’ became the highest-funded media project in history, amassing over $11 million from more than 16,000 investors who eagerly supported the creation of season one. As the series gained traction, it expanded to various streaming platforms, including Prime Video. More recently, the American television network ‘The CW’ secured the broadcast rights for the show, further boosting its popularity.
Although a fourth season of ‘The Chosen’ is currently in development, it has yet to be released to the eager audience. The production was initially halted due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, which had widespread repercussions on the global movie industry. However, ‘The Chosen’ managed to secure a waiver to resume its production activities. This was possible because the series operates on a self-financed model with limited affiliations to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
This discreet acquisition of ‘The Chosen’ by Netflix US marks a significant milestone for both the streaming platform and the series itself. Netflix’s inclusion of this faith-based content into its vast catalog demonstrates its commitment to offering a diverse range of programming to cater to a wide array of viewer preferences. ‘The Chosen,’ with its unique take on religious history and its compelling storytelling, is sure to attract a new and diverse audience on Netflix.
For fans of the series, this news opens up new opportunities to delve into the life of Jesus Christ as reimagined by Dallas Jenkins and portrayed by the talented Jonathan Roumie. As Netflix continues to grow its streaming library and expand its reach, it will be interesting to see how this acquisition impacts the series’ popularity and viewership, potentially introducing it to an even wider audience.
Netflix’s quiet acquisition of ‘The Chosen’ demonstrates its commitment to diversifying its content offerings and provides fans of the series with a new platform to enjoy this innovative take on the life of Jesus Christ. While the full first season is not yet available on Netflix, this development holds promise for the future availability of additional episodes. As ‘The Chosen’ continues its journey, it remains a unique and compelling addition to the streaming giant’s catalog.
