“It was born from failure.” These impactful words from Dallas Jenkins encapsulate the journey of his acclaimed series <em>The Chosen</em>, as shared in a recent column for AARP. For fans of this remarkable show, associating the term “failure” with it seems almost unfathomable, considering it stands as one of the most successful series on Prime Video in recent years. The reach of this production extends far beyond its streaming success; it has captivated audiences worldwide through theatrical releases aligned with the premieres of its five seasons. Nonetheless, Jenkins, who is not only the creator but also the director and co-writer of the series, openly acknowledges that The Chosen was initially not the direction he envisioned for his filmmaking career, and he faced several obstacles on his path to success.

In his column, Jenkins reflects on his unexpected journey, revealing that he never intended to be labeled as “a Christian filmmaker.” Following the disheartening experience of his feature film, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, which failed to resonate with audiences, he found himself reevaluating his artistic vision. Jenkins recalls the pivotal moment when he faced the harsh reality of his career:

“The movie turned out well, it tested very high and everyone was excited — until it completely bombed. On a Friday afternoon, when the box office numbers came in, I went from being a director with a very bright future to a director with no future.”

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding his faith and the interpretation of his spiritual calling, Jenkins shares a transformative experience that occurred later that night when he felt a divine revelation alongside his wife:

“The answer became clear that night, when God once again put something very clearly on my wife’s heart and mine: ‘It’s not your job to feed the 5,000, only to provide the loaves and fish.’ (In the Bible’s Matthew 14, the disciples present Jesus with five loaves and two fishes, and he feeds a crowd of 5,000.) And in that moment, my life changed. I no longer cared about affirmation or legitimacy or results or success (or lack thereof). I just wanted Him to be happy with my 5 and 2. And if that meant never making another movie or TV show, I was genuinely OK with that.”

Discovering the Origins of ‘The Chosen’

Of course, this was not the end of Jenkins’ journey in the film industry. In fact, it marked a new beginning, even if it didn’t appear that way at first. By picking up the pieces and returning to his roots, Jenkins stated,

“I ended up doing a short film for my church about the birth of Christ from the perspective of the shepherds. It felt like a big step down from my Hollywood aspirations, but that was OK. When that short film went viral and launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised $10 million for a first season of a show about Jesus, suddenly I had a new opportunity.”

As history shows, that “show about Jesus” evolved into a global sensation that is currently in the process of filming its sixth season. However, Jenkins maintains that he views this project as something greater than himself, adding,

“I believe I had a new choice, too. To do this my way, pursuing once again success and results. Or God’s way, which was just to focus on my loaves and fish and not care about the result.”

The first five seasons of The Chosen are readily available for streaming on Prime Video, inviting viewers to embark on a profound narrative journey.

Source: AARP