‘The Chosen’ Expands to 90 Languages: ‘We Won’t Stop’ Until ‘Jesus Comes,’ Producer Says
The Bible-based series The Chosen is no longer simply a streaming hit. Two years after it first launched, The Chosen is now a worldwide streaming ministry.
Season one, which premiered in 2019, includes subtitles in more than 90 languages, including seven languages (Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, among them) in audio dubbing.
Season two, which debuted on Easter, is available with subtitles in more than 30 languages – with dozens more on the way.
Just as impressive: The series has been streamed more than 250 million times from viewers all over the world, including from such diverse nations as India, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Derral Eves, executive producer of the series, said the goal is to have more than 1 billion people view it.
It’s billed as the first multi-season television series about Jesus. Much of the series – which is crowdfunded – focuses on Christ’s disciples and the many ways He impacted them.
“We’re gonna get it out to a billion people, and we won’t stop at anything until Jesus comes,” Eves told Christian Headlines. “That’s the only thing that will stop us – if Jesus comes.”
For it to reach 1 billion people, Eves said, translations are “vital.” The series can be viewed, for free, on The Chosen app, which is available on all major platforms.
“From day one, when we realized that we wanted to get this out to a billion people, we had to figure out an international play,” Eves said. “And the best way to go international is to make the app available for anyone in the world from any country to download. And it is available in almost every country.”
The series, Eves said, is cross-generational and cross-cultural in its popularity.
“The Chosen is humanizing characters in a way that’s fresh, that’s raw, that’s real,” he said. “And every person that walks the face of the earth can relate. They know someone like that, or they’re like that.”
People around the world, he said, are learning “there’s Someone out there listening and willing to redeem us.”
“It’s beautiful, beautiful storytelling,” he said, referencing the series’ popularity. “There’s a beautiful dialogue. And it’s done in a way that is not cringy. But yet, it’s done in a way that it connects with people. … You’re able to see an authentic Jesus go on His ministry and go to rescue ‘the one.’
The Chosen, he added, is “bringing light into people’s lives.”
“We live in a dark world,” Eves said. “… So any content that has light is going to stand out.”
Season 3 is 56 percent funded, according to the series’ website.
“We’re still raising money for the third season,” he said. “The writers … are putting the scripts together right now.”
Photo courtesy of Angel Studios
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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