Latest news with #crucifixion
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Chosen 'Creator Dallas Jenkins Says the Show's Crucifixion Scene Filmed in Same Place as 'Passion of the Christ '(Exclusive)
The creator of The Chosen, Dallas Jenkins, shared that the show's season 6 crucifixion scene was filmed at the same Italian location as the crucifixion in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ Jenkins' crew filmed at the site for three weeks, one week of which was night shoots Jenkins shared that filming the crucifixion was the 'most challenging thing' his crew had done to dateDallas Jenkins, the creator of the hit drama The Chosen, revealed a major behind-the-scenes detail about the show's upcoming season. While speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Jenkins, who also directs and co-writes the show, shared that season 6 will depict Jesus' crucifixion — and it will be filmed in Matera, Italy, the same place as the crucifixion scene in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. 'The thing about filming the crucifixion is that it is the most physically and logistically challenging thing that we've ever done,' Jenkins, 49, told PEOPLE of the three-week shoot. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! 'This is where Mel Gibson filmed Passion of the Christ [...] It's one of the few places in the world that offers a first-century skyline while we're up on crosses, but yet it's still remote,' he explained "It's difficult for the crew,' he added. 'We have a whole week of filming at night.' Jenkins went on to say that the sea of technical and practical logistics means that he doesn't have much time to dwell on the emotional, psychological and spiritual weight of the moments they are attempting to capture. 'All these things are so physically demanding and logistically challenging that the spiritual and emotional weight of it is competing with the physical and logistical weight of it. And so I don't really have too much brain space or heart space to make this just all about a spiritual and emotional [...] We have an important job to do. It has to look right, we have to capture it properly.' 'Obviously, there's more weight. Obviously, Jonathan [Roumie, who plays Jesus] is going to go through some physical and emotional challenges. But every season of our show is important [...] and so I think I would be doing the fans a disservice if I spent the next three weeks just in a state of mourning and sadness and stress' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I've got a job to do,' he added. Jenkins also stressed the importance of making the show's depiction of the crucifixion feel real and grounded, as opposed to like a page out of a religious text. 'My job is actually to make sure that it doesn't feel too religious, right?' he explained. He added, 'I mean, it's making sure that we don't say, 'Okay, this is so important, and so deep and so weighty that it ends up feeling like a religious painting or a church sermon [...].' We're still trying to find the humanity. It still needs to be a television show.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! 'It can't just be everyone observing Jonathan Roumie in Dallas Jenkins' personal explorations of the depth of pain that Jesus went through. We have to make sure that we understand the stakes of everyone involved.' The first two episodes of The Chosen season 5 debuted on Sunday, June 15, on Prime Video. Three new episodes dropped on Sunday, June 22, and the final three episodes will air on Sunday, June 29. Read the original article on People
Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Telegraph
Pastor ‘crucified by religious fanatic'
A pastor was crucified and had a crown of thorns placed on his head by a religious fanatic. The blood-soaked body of William 'Bill' Schonemann, 76, was found on his bed with his hands nailed to the wall in a house in New River, Arizona, on April 28. Adam Sheafe, 51, confessed to the killing in a jail cell interview in which he revealed he was attempting to recreate the crucifixion scene, as part of what he dubbed 'Operation First Commandment'. He claimed to have found the crown of thorns in the desert. Sheafe planned to execute 14 clergymen whom he believed were leading their 'flock astray'. With Hebrew lettering tattooed on his neck and wearing dark blue prison fatigues, Sheafe said he had a hit-list starting in Arizona, where he was born. He added: 'From there, it was Las Vegas, Nevada; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Billings, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Mobile, Alabama; Beaumont, Texas; and El Paso, Texas.' 'Where it starts is where it will end, like the Garden of Eden,' he told True Crime Arizona. Sheafe arrived in Arizona and followed the pastor home on Easter Sunday. As Schonemann pulled into the garage, two women appeared, but they were spared. 'I'm not interested in executing anyone other than the pastors.' From there, he drove 117 miles to Sedona, where he planned to slaughter his next two victims. Sheafe was arrested two days after killing Schonemann following a manhunt linked to a string of burglaries in the area. He said he had no regrets. 'Not only do I have zero remorse, I plan on fulfilling what I started. If my father puts me in an authoritative position on this earth, I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.' He said he wanted the death penalty – and as soon as possible. 'Well, I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I'm trying to do ... All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to Heaven; your sins are forgiven. That's not what God said.' Sheafe is being held in Coconino jail on charges unconnected with the killing, including burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle. 'This case is probably one of the most bizarre cases I have ever seen in my 40 years with the Maricopa Sheriff's Office,' said Sheriff Jerry Sheridan. Schonemann's family condemned the decision to broadcast an interview in a statement. 'What we have seen over the last week is this suspect enjoying the attention. His side of the story is half of the whole story, and we see the need to cover it, however challenging that may be for us,' the family said in a statement seen by Fox 10, although they criticised the granting of a platform to Sheafe. 'We are quite surprised by his ability to freely message with county-supplied devices. We are concerned about his increasing notoriety and possibly gaining a following.'
Fox News
26-06-2025
- Fox News
Pastor's crucifixion murder suspect says on video he planned to kill 14 more
The man accused of brutally crucifying a rural Arizona pastor has not only admitted to the alleged crime, but said that he planned to kill more than a dozen other Christian leaders. Adam Sheafe, 51, told FOX 10 in an interview that he murdered Pastor Bill Schonemann, 76, head of the New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona. On April 28, Schonemann was found dead in his bed with his arms spread wide and pinned to the wall behind him. The bizarre display left the community reeling. Sheafe's plan was to crucify 14 more Christian leaders of no particular denomination, he told FOX 10, ascribing his motive to a belief that Christian churches were leading their congregants astray by teaching them to follow Jesus, whom he says is a false God. He titled his mission "Operation First Commandment." Sheafe was captured by police near the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona, where he planned to kill two priests, he said. "The day I was going to execute that priest, I tried getting into the back of his car. There was like a little lady on a bike that got in my way, and I was just going to get in the back seat and tell him to drive to his house," Sheafe said. He later defiantly refused to apologize for the alleged killing. In an interview with 12News, Sheafe explained further how he planned Schonemann's killing. "I saw that he had a Wednesday evening Bible study, so I sat there and waited for them to arrive, so that I could locate which one was the priest, and then I just followed him," Sheafe said. "And then I returned on Sunday to execute and crucify him to this wall." He also said he wanted to be executed. "Put me on death row, set the execution date for right now," Sheafe said. "The victims want it. The victim's families want it. I want it, and the taxpayers want it." Sheafe has been charged with first-degree murder in Maricopa County, but remains in the custody of the Coconino County Jail. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office told Fox News Digital that the case is under review, and that generally, any first-degree murder convict is subject to the death penalty. It is unclear whether he has an attorney, but Fox News Digital reached out to the public defender's office.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Murder suspect accused of crucifying Arizona pastor claims he's ready to go to heaven
An Arizona man accused of murder reportedly claims he placed a crown of thorns on his victim's head after crucifying him — and that he's ready to go to heaven. Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed that he killed pastor William Schonemann in April. On Monday, the 56-year-old suspect told news outlet Arizona's Family that he planned to kill 14 preachers nationwide for 'leading the flock astray,' including one unidentified religious leader in New York. Sheafe, who confessed that he planned to murder four pastors in Arizona, claimed he drove late one night to Schonemann's home, where he planned to start his killing spree. Cops reportedly found the 76-year-old pastor in his bed covered with blood on April 28, and identified Sheafe as a suspect earlier this month. He'd been arrested and jailed after the victim's death on unrelated charges in a different jurisdiction. 'I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can't kill God's son,' he told Arizona's Family. 'The whole story is B.S.' According to Sheafe, God will forgive him of his sins if he asks, then he can get on with the afterlife. 'I want to be executed quickly so we can get this show on the road and show exactly what I'm trying to do.' he told the outlet. 'All you gotta do is worship Jesus and you go to Heaven.' Sheafe hadn't yet been extradited to Maricopa County to stand trial when he spoke to reporters in Arizona.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
‘The Chosen' swaps Texas for Italy to film the crucifixion for the hit drama about Jesus Christ
MATERA, Italy — Matera, in the south of Italy, is known as the 'City of Stones' for its architecture. For the next season of 'The Chosen,' it'll be known by another name: Jerusalem. With its ancient caves, breathtaking scenery, dramatic cliffs and houses made of stone, Matera is doubling as the ancient city for the hit religious drama's sixth season, which focuses on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This month, the cast and crew traded their Texas studio for three weeks in Italy, during which The Associated Press visited the set. George Harrison Xanthis, who plays the apostle John, says that filming in Matera has helped his performance by immersing him in the world of the show. On the show's sets in Texas and Utah, 'you do step from civilization into the ancient world, whereas here you are just always in the ancient world,' he tells the AP. 'It's amazing.' Director and showrunner Dallas Jenkins explains he wanted authenticity with the crucifixion on the backdrop of a real horizon. While the city of Matera — which has also provided the setting for 'The Passion of the Christ,' 'Mary Magdalene' and even 'No Time to Die' — does most of the work, the tingly and warm smell of spices in the air, coming from a prop cart, adds to the atmosphere. Starring as Jesus is Jonathan Roumie, beloved by the show's fans who blush around him like he's an actual religious figure, revealing he's part of their daily prayers. This observation was confirmed by Jenkins, who has witnessed people crying, touching his hands and calling him Jesus. 'Seeing Jonathan reminds them of the experience they have with Jesus. So, there is a lot of tears. But they know the difference,' says Jenkins. Apart from a friendly hello, Roumie was not available to the media during the set visit, so he could stay concentrated for the demanding scenes that saw him covered in blood with a swollen prosthetic eye closed shut. Other members of the cast have experienced emotional encounters with the audience, albeit with perhaps not the same intensity as Roumie's. Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mother Mary, recalls being recognized during school drop-off. 'It was kind of out of nowhere. And I was very surprised because I was wearing a hat, it was very hard to even see my face,' she remembers. 'Them saying 'I know you are not her but it's like the closest thing' — it's also a lot of responsibility.' Jenkins originally financed the pilot of 'The Chosen' through crowdfunding in 2017. While its success saw it move to Amazon Prime Video, the show continues to be supplemented by crowdfunding and the nonprofit Come and See Foundation. Beginning with Season 3, bundled episodes were released theatrically. Season 5 was first released to theaters in three parts as 'The Chosen: Last Supper,' together grossing tens of millions of dollars at the worldwide box office. When Jenkins yells 'Action!' the set resounds with the actors' cries as they follow Roumie as Jesus, carrying the cross to the hill of Golgotha. Elizabeth Tabish, who plays Mary Magdalene, was still caught up in the scene when she stepped off set teary-eyed for an interview. 'It's just pure devastation, to watch your friend be paraded through the streets and mocked, and publicly executed. He never hurt anyone, you know. So there's a lot of grief,' said the actor, wiping her eyes. She's not worried about bringing those feelings back home — a plate of authentic Italian pasta after work for three weeks straight will have the power to uplift and help her move on, she assures. The first two episodes of Season 5 debuted Sunday on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S., and the rest will release over the next two weeks. Jenkins says the episodes focus on 'the most famous moment in the scriptures,' such as the Last Supper and Judas' betrayal. As the stakes rise and the show grows, his goal is for the audience to have a more personal and intimate experience when they watch. 'That's the challenge,' he says. 'Making sure that the audience still can connect with the characters, not just the size of the story.' Season 5 will be available to watch for free on the show's app of the same name and website beginning Sept. 13. Season 6 will air in 2027, and the series will come to an end with its seventh season, focused on Jesus' resurrection.
