Latest news with #TheChosen
Herald Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Malaysia
Star of "The Chosen": 'Life is only better with Jesus in it'
Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in 'The Chosen', shares his experience portraying such a prominent character and his hopes for what it can share about the works of Jesus to viewers. Jun 28, 2025 Earlier this week, "The Chosen" cast and crew held a press conference in Rome By Grace LathropJonathan Roumie, along with other members of the team of 'The Chosen' presented Pope Leo XIV with a wooden box on Wednesday morning. Having just attended his weekly General Audience, the cast and production team of the hit show depicting the life of Jesus were given time to meet with the Pope and present him with the box and other gifts. In an interview with Vatican News following the meeting, Jonathan Roumie, cast as Jesus, explained that the show's team made the box 'out of the wood from one of our crosses on set.' The box held items used during the filming of season seven, including nails from the crucifixion, the Crown of Thorns, and a piece of a bloodied garment. 'That's why we're in Italy,' explained Roumie, who, along with the rest of the team, recently travelled to Rome from Matera, in southern Italy—a location whose renowned rock-cut architecture has made it a faithful backdrop for film crews filming scenes on Jesus for decades. Recent success and the portrayal of Jesus Roumie expressed his gratitude for the opportunities that The Chosen has given him. He pointed out that when the crew first started shooting, there was no guarantee that the show would go beyond four episodes. Now, as they film their sixth season, Roumie's gratitude circles back to God, whom, he noted, 'thankfully had other plans. It's been an extraordinary adventure for me.' Now, all five of The Chosen's released seasons are in the top ten ranking for viewership on Amazon Prime Video. Roumie described his work in seeking to portray Jesus in ways that viewers can easily connect to him. One of his techniques, he said, is to try to bring the humanity of Christ to life that viewers may have never seen before. He explained that 'seeing His humanity on full display has been revelatory for so many people, and it's always about finding the balance between Christ's divinity and His humanity.' Roumie's impact on set In May, the cast filmed scenes depicting the crucifixion of Jesus, which Roumie described as 'heavily emotional.' According to him, having a good relationship with castmates during these scenes generated good on-screen chemistry. Roumie said he tries 'to love them in a way that I think Jesus loves all of us' and with this approach, gives them 'as much as I have to give.' 'Life is only better with Jesus in it' At the end of the interview, Roumie also shared what he wants viewers of The Chosen to take away from the show. To him, understanding the works of Jesus is just part of the experience. Growing closer to Jesus, however, is something he hopes everyone gets to experience. Finally, Roumie shared his hope that the show helps people understand that 'Jesus loves them unconditionally' and that 'everyone's life has the potential to change irrevocably for the better." "Life is only better with Jesus in it," he said.--Vatican News
USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Chosen' Jesus actor Jonathan Roumie meets Pope Leo XIV in biblical crossover
In a meeting of biblical proportions, the pope and Jesus took a selfie – well, sort of. Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ on "The Chosen," snapped a selfie with the newly elected pope recently, who shared it with fans on social media. Roumie, who has portrayed the holy figure on the Christian historical drama for five seasons, can be seen posing next to Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America. The photo, shared to Instagram by the pope's official account, was part of a carousel of images showing the pontiff alongside worshipers in Vatican City. "Every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, we grow in our connection with Him, and His grace is bestowed immediately," the caption reads. "At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, His grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within." 'The Chosen: Last Supper': 'Iconic' scenes, Jonathan Roumie's 'extraordinary' whip skills Followers quickly recognized Roumie's face and began sharing GIFs of him as Jesus in "The Chosen" in the comment section. The show, which first premiered in 2017, dramatizes the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, retelling a well-worn ancient biblical tale with the help of modern Hollywood magic. Roumie, in Vatican City Monday, June 23, after wrapping filming for parts of the series' sixth season in Italy last week, told reporters the visit was a "humbling honor," according to the Catholic News Agency. When 'The Chosen' Jesus met giant serpent Satan: Jonathan Roumie dishes on 16-foot python co-star "The fact we're here now, sitting at the Vatican … is a testament to, I think, how God wants to continue to further this mission to bring more people to Jesus and to bring Jesus to them," he said of the show during a press conference. "When (Pope Leo XIV) was elected, I wept, because I never thought I'd see an American pope in my lifetime," he continued, "to communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life." Pope Leo, who was elected in May to the surprise of close conclave watchers, is the first to hail from the United States in the history of the church. A Chicago native, he attended Villanova University, Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. How accurate is 'Conclave' the movie? Film vs. real process compared, plus how to watch This is not Roumie's first meeting with a pontiff – in 2021, the actor met Pope Francis at another general audience with crowds in the Italian city.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Jesus' Meets The New Pope
Since the first American ascended to the papacy, numerous celebrities and world leaders have made the pilgrimage to Rome to meet with him. This week, it was Jesus himself (well, TV's current Jesus, anyway). A photo of Jonathan Roumie, who plays Christ in Prime Video's The Chosen, and Pope Leo XIV was posted to the official 'Pontifex' Instagram account along with a number of other snapshots. More from Deadline 'The Chosen' Unveils Intense 'Last Supper' Trailer Depicting Jesus' Final Days; Sets Prime Video Streaming Date 'The Chosen' Season 6 Finale & Season 7 Premiere To Be Released Theatrically As Standalone Films Via Amazon MGM Studios Angel Studios Sets Release For 'Solo Mio' With Kevin James, Alyson Hannigan, Jonathan Roumie The accompanying caption mentions Jesus by name. 'Every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, we grow in our connection with Him, and His grace is bestowed immediately,' the passage reads. Roumie also met the late Pope Francis before he passed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pope Leo XIV (@pontifex) The actor and other members of the show's cast and crew visited the Vatican on Monday ahead of The Chosen's Season 5 premiere in Italy next month. As part of the visit, Episode 4, 'The Same Coin,' was shown at the Vatican's Filmoteca theater Monday afternoon. The Chosen ensemble held a press conference that same day, at which Roumie called the Vatican visit a 'humbling honor,' according to the Catholic News Agency. 'When [Pope Leo XIV] was elected, I wept, because I never thought I'd see an American pope in my lifetime,' Roumie said. To get 'to communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life.' The actor was joined by Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), George Xanthis (John the Apostle), Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary) and series creator Dallas Jenkins. Jenkins called the visit 'a tremendous honor.' The cast and crew on Sunday had just finished three weeks of shooting Jesus' crucifixion for Season 6 in Basilicata, the same location used for The Passion of the Christ. Jenkins called those three weeks 'the most challenging and difficult we had in filming.' Amazon MGM Studios and 5&2 Studios will release the Season 6 finale of The Chosen as a feature film exclusively in theaters on March 12, 2027. Additionally, Season 7 will kick off with a feature film depicting the resurrection of Jesus. That will be exclusively in theaters on March 31, 2028. Both are being produced as standalone films designed for the big screen experience. Season 6 will be available to stream on Prime Video prior to the theatrical debut of the finale, while Season 7 will stream on Prime Video following the theatrical run of the premiere. Season 5 premiered last week on Prime Video in the U.S. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TVLine's Performer of the Week: Jonathan Roumie
THE PERFORMER | Jonathan Roumie THE SHOW | Prime Video's The Chosen More from TVLine The Chosen's Jonathan Roumie Meets Pope Leo XIV After Wrapping Season 6 Crucifixion Shoot in Italy Were Arachnophobes Bugged by Criminal Minds? Is Resident Alien's Joseph Gone for Good? Did Steamy Adults Kiss Launch 'Ship? More Qs! The Buccaneers Season 2 Premiere: Leighton Meester Makes Dramatic Entrance as [Spoiler]'s Mother THE EPISODE | 'Entry' (June 15, 2025) THE PERFORMANCE | 'Listen carefully, because I'm going to tell you what is about to happen….' With its Season 5 premiere, The Chosen began dipping into the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, and series lead Roumie — with the words above, and all that followed — infused each and every moment with an earnestness befitting the pivotal occasion. Now, we and Jesus know where this story is heading, but Simon Peter, Matthew et al do not. As such, Jesus' every syllable landed with a great, and at times haunting, weight. 'In a little while, you will not see me. And then after a little while, you will see me,' he told them. 'Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.' The way Roumie served up this part of the Last Supper, you could feel Jesus' intent to not only prepare his followers for what is to come, but a certain excitement to speak plainly and not 'in figures of speech.' Pivoting away from this opening, eight-minute segment, we picked up where Season 4 left off, with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Roumie's expression whilst seated upon a donkey could only be described as beatific. As the crowds sang 'Hosanna to the Son of David!,' you had to feel chills. A beat later, though, when Jesus was overcome with a rare bout of anxiety — 'seeing' blood seeping through the walls of Jerusalem, clutching his chest — the chills were of a different kind. 'Father, save me from this hour,' he said, triggering a thunderclap that barely masked the words, 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.' Capping Roumie's moving performance, we witnessed a low-key Jesus, 'out for a walk,' happen upon and join in the revelry of a betrothal ceremony. Upon being identified, he deflected the attention, but graced the couple with his blessing. In a subsequent scene, Jesus wept (as they say) as he looked out over the plaza and 'saw' the fiery fate that would eventually befall Jerusalem. '[Your enemies] will not leave one stone upon another in you,' he lamented, 'because you did not know the time of your visitation.' Scroll down to see who got Honorable Mention shout-outs this week… Aras Aydin's Matteo wasn't the only Nine Perfect Strangers character to have an emotional breakthrough during Episode 6, but his was easily the most affecting, thanks to Aydin's soul-baring performance. When Matteo's therapy session with Masha took an unexpected turn, and he revealed he didn't want to stop grieving his late family members, Aydin communicated a palpable mix of heartache and hope while hardly raising his voice above a whisper. 'I'm a boy who was loved and lost this love. The thing that everyone fears most in their life, and it's happened to me. So yes, there is pain,' Matteo admitted, Aydin's eyes wide and tearful. 'But there is no fear of loss, because I've already lost. So I can have nothing to fear.' Aydin colored his character's words with such profound sincerity that we were as moved as Masha was by the time his monologue was over — and when she later called Matteo's therapy session 'perfect,' we couldn't have agreed more. — Rebecca Luther Leighton Meester had us wrapped around her finger from the moment she uttered 'Nice hat' with the perfect blend of swagger and wit in The Buccaneers Season 2 premiere. As Nelle, Meester went on to masterfully deliver plenty of other piercing lines, particularly during her character's confrontation with Patti. As Nelle read her sister for filth — 'Oh… you're fed up. Is that it? You're bored?' — Meester made sure the words were charged with plenty of subtext. She feigned compassion with a nod of the head during her sister's admission, before swatting away Patti's claims of newfound independence with a brush of the hand and a sneering accusation of boredom that hung between them with all the weight that Meester had so purposefully given it. All in all, in only a few scenes, the former Gossip Girl reminded us that she's still Queen Bee. — Claire Franken Poker Face has a grand tradition of bringing in familiar faces for juicy guest roles, and Alia Shawkat sunk her teeth into a good one this week as murderous grifter Kate. Setting her sights on that ultimate New York City prize — a cheap rent-controlled apartment — Kate wooed retired professor Anne to get her hands on the lease, with a smiling Shawkat laying down a barrage of phony love-bombing. But Kate needed to get Anne's granddaughter out of the way first, and Shawkat was downright frightening as Kate plotted to knock her off in secret. When Charlie got on the case, Kate even tried to woo her, too, and Shawkat nimbly toggled between seductress and killer before finally getting caught. Kate will go down as one of Charlie Cale's most formidable adversaries yet, though, thanks to Shawkat's deliciously sinister turn. — Dave Nemetz Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments! Best of TVLine 20+ Age-Defying Parent-Child Castings From Blue Bloods, ER, Ginny & Georgia, Golden Girls, Supernatural and More Young Sheldon Easter Eggs: Every Nod to The Big Bang Theory (and Every Future Reveal) Across 7 Seasons Weirdest TV Crossovers: Always Sunny Meets Abbott, Family Guy vs. Simpsons, Nine-Nine Recruits New Girl and More
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Chosen's Jonathan Roumie Meets Pope Leo XIV After Wrapping Season 6 Crucifixion Shoot in Italy
What a #blessed week for Jonathan Roumie. Just days after he was named TVLine's latest Performer of the Week, the star of TV's The Chosen (the Christian historical drama that now calls Prime Video home) met Pope Leo XIV, during a Wednesday visit to the Vatican. More from TVLine TVLine's Performer of the Week: Jonathan Roumie House of David Season 2 Will Cost You an Extra $9 to Watch on Prime Video This Fall — Here's Why The Chosen Season 5 Gets Amazon Premiere Date, Trailer Teasing Jesus' Final Days The meeting between Jesus' portrayer and the head of the Catholic Church was captured in a photo shared by the Pope's Instagram account, seen below. 'Every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, we grow in our connection with Him, and His grace is bestowed immediately,' the caption accompanying that photo and several others reads. 'At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, His grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within.' Roumie, along with The Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins and castmates George Xanthis (who plays John the Apostle), Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary) and Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene), are at the Vatican this week after having just wrapped three weeks of filming in southern Italy for the Crucifixion scenes of Season 6, which is due out next year. As reported by the Catholic News Agency, The Chosen's cast and crew on June 22 finished filming Jesus' crucifixion in Matera, in the Italian region of Basilicata, which is the same location used for Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. 'When [Pope Leo XIV] was elected, I wept, because I never thought I'd see an American pope in my lifetime,' Roumie, who is Catholic, is reported as remarking. To get 'to communicate to him in our native language this week is just something I never thought I would see in my life.' The finale of The Chosen Season 5 aka The Chosen: The Last Supper streams this Sunday, June 29, on Prime of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
